Genetic Aspects of Dental Impaction: A Scoping Review

TL;DR

This review explores genes possibly linked to dental impaction, finding that multiple genes may contribute to the condition rather than a single cause.

Contribution

The study identifies candidate genes and highlights the need for standardized research to better understand dental impaction's genetic basis.

Findings

Candidate genes like RUNX2, FGFR1, MSX1, PAX9, and AXIN2 are associated with dental impaction.

Current evidence suggests a complex, polygenic basis for dental impaction rather than single-gene causation.

Most studies had moderate quality, emphasizing the need for standardized and large-scale research.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: There is a lack of cohesion in integrating current knowledge on the genetic and environmental etiology of dental impaction. The primary aim of this article is to review the current literature to identify candidate genes involved in the pathogenesis of dental impaction. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines to identify and organize the available body of evidence. Relevant literature was searched in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science, with the final search conducted on 03 January 2026. Eligibility criteria included case–control, cohort, cross-sectional observational, and case report studies in humans. Selected studies focused on syndromic and non-syndromic variants, inheritance patterns, and genetic analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklists and AMSTAR 2. Results: Only 18 studies met the eligibility criteria. Most articles were case reports and retrospective observational studies, revealing a multifaceted genetic landscape underlying dental impaction, with mutations affecting transcription factors and signaling pathways critical for odontogenesis, particularly RUNX2, FGFR1, MSX1, PAX9, and AXIN2. Overall, the included studies showed moderate methodological quality. Conclusions: Current evidence does not clearly support specific genes as causal factors in dental impaction, but instead suggests a complex, likely polygenic susceptibility that modulates the anatomical threshold for tooth eruption. This review highlights RUNX2, FGFR1, MSX1, PAX9, and AXIN2, as well as emerging candidates involved in eruption and bone remodeling pathways. Future progress depends on standardized phenotyping, large replicated cohorts, and functional studies linking genetic variation to dental follicle-mediated eruptive remodeling.

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