Early loss of the superior primary canine leads to transposition of which teeth?

Early loss of the superior primary canine leads to transposition of which teeth?

• A. Transposition of the central permanent incisor
• B. Transposition of the lateral incisor or first premolar
• C. Transposition of the second superior premolar
• D. Transposition of the superior first permanent molar

Answer: (B)

Early loss of the upper primary canine removes an important guide and spacekeeper for the erupting permanent teeth, allowing them to drift mesially and take an abnormal eruption path. When the eruption pattern is disrupted in this region, the permanent maxillary canine is particularly prone to shifting into an abnormal position and can end up transposed with adjacent teeth. The most common scenario after early primary canine loss is a transposition between the permanent canine and the lateral incisor. It can also occur with the first premolar, though less frequently. This is why the correct concept here is that transposition involves the lateral incisor or the first premolar. Central incisors, second premolars, or maxillary molars are not typically involved in this pattern as a direct consequence of losing the primary canine.

Early loss of the upper primary canine removes an important guide and spacekeeper for the erupting permanent teeth, allowing them to drift mesially and take an abnormal eruption path. When the eruption pattern is disrupted in this region, the permanent maxillary canine is particularly prone to shifting into an abnormal position and can end up transposed with adjacent teeth.

The most common scenario after early primary canine loss is a transposition between the permanent canine and the lateral incisor. It can also occur with the first premolar, though less frequently. This is why the correct concept here is that transposition involves the lateral incisor or the first premolar. Central incisors, second premolars, or maxillary molars are not typically involved in this pattern as a direct consequence of losing the primary canine.