Editor's Summary and Q&A: Assessment of characteristic features and dental anomalies accompanying tooth transposition: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate possible characteristic features and dental anomalies that accompany tooth transposition. Methods Several electronic databases were searched. Hand searching was also performed to identify potentially relevant studies. Initially, 409 articles were retrieved (399 by electronic searching, 10 by hand searching). After applying specific exclusion criteria, 5 studies were eligible for this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was performed by determining the marginal mean proportions and the 95% confidence intervals estimated by the random-effect model. Evaluation of heterogeneity was also done with Q and I2 statistics. Results The lack of high-validity studies of the characteristic features and dental anomalies of tooth transposition was noted. The analysis of the data of the studies showed that tooth transposition seems to occur more often unilaterally than bilaterally, with maxillary prevalence and no sex preference, and it is significantly unrelated to dental anomalies, such as congenitally missing teeth, peg-shaped or hypoplastic teeth, or impacted teeth. There might be an association with overretained deciduous teeth. Conclusions Tooth transposition is an isolated phenomenon rather than a syndrome. It occasionally can be accompanied by other characteristic features and dental anomalies, but without distinct associations.