These teeth, which occur in .15 percent to 4 percent of the population, can appear in anyone but are more often associated with people who have Gardner’s syndrome (a rare genetic disorder), Down syndrome, or in those born with acleft lip.Supernumerary teeth appear twice as often in adult males as they do in adult females.
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Types
Supernumerary teeth usually appear as a single tooth, but sometimes multiple teeth are present, appearing separately or in clusters. In rare cases, as many as 30 supernumerary teeth can be present.
There are several different types of supernumerary teeth. They include:
Causes and Risk Factors
The causes of supernumerary teeth are uncertain, though factors that may contribute to their appearance include genetics, overactivity of the dental lamina (cells that initiate tooth development), disease processes, and atavism (the reappearance of a trait no longer common because of evolution). Environmental factors that may cause hyperdontia are not yet known.
Conditions associated with supernumerary teeth include:
Complications
Supernumerary teeth can cause a variety of dental problems that interfere with normal oral function and health and present cosmetic issues. Some of the dental problems hyperdontia can cause include:
Treatments
It is important to identify and treat supernumerary teeth as soon as possible. Your dentist or oral surgeon will be able to identify supernumerary teeth and suggest treatment for them. This may includehaving them extracted, which is normally done under local or general anesthesia.In some cases, supernumerary teeth may need to be cut and then removed in pieces.
You and your dentist should discuss the risks and benefits of extracting supernumerary teeth, as the procedure may increase the possibility of severing a nerve or blood vessel in the mouth.
In children, it is recommended that supernumerary teeth be addressed early when the child gets his or her permanent teeth to avoid potential future issues they may cause. An orthodontist is often consulted in these cases. Oftentimes supernumerary teeth will need to be extracted before orthodontic treatment.
Supernumerary teeth fused with permanent teeth require endodontic treatment—also known as a root canal—to treat the tooth pulp as well as surrounding tissue.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Subasioglu A, Savas S.Genetic background of supernumerary teeth.Eur J Dent. 2015 Jan-Mar; 9(1): 153–158. doi: 10.4103/1305-7456.149670.Garvey MT, Barry HJ, Blake M.Supernumerary teeth: an overview of classification, diagnosis and management.J Can Dent Assoc.1999.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Subasioglu A, Savas S.Genetic background of supernumerary teeth.Eur J Dent. 2015 Jan-Mar; 9(1): 153–158. doi: 10.4103/1305-7456.149670.Garvey MT, Barry HJ, Blake M.Supernumerary teeth: an overview of classification, diagnosis and management.J Can Dent Assoc.1999.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Subasioglu A, Savas S.Genetic background of supernumerary teeth.Eur J Dent. 2015 Jan-Mar; 9(1): 153–158. doi: 10.4103/1305-7456.149670.Garvey MT, Barry HJ, Blake M.Supernumerary teeth: an overview of classification, diagnosis and management.J Can Dent Assoc.1999.
Subasioglu A, Savas S.Genetic background of supernumerary teeth.Eur J Dent. 2015 Jan-Mar; 9(1): 153–158. doi: 10.4103/1305-7456.149670.
Garvey MT, Barry HJ, Blake M.Supernumerary teeth: an overview of classification, diagnosis and management.J Can Dent Assoc.1999.
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