Goodlettsville Dental Services

Hyperdontia

Hyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth which appear in addition to the regular number of teeth.

Types

The most common supernumerary tooth is a mesiodens, which is a mal-formed, peg-like tooth that occurs between the maxillary central incisors.

Fourth and fifth molars that form behind the third molars are another kind of supernumerary teeth.

Another rare type of supernumerary teeth is a “third set of teeth” that forms underneath and pushes out the second set of teeth, much like the second set formed underneath which pushes out the first set of teeth.

Causes

There is evidence of hereditary factors along with some evidence of environmental factors leading to this condition. Many supernumerary teeth never erupt, but they may delay eruption of nearby teeth or cause other dental problems. Molar-type extra teeth are the rarest form. Dental X-rays are often used to diagnose Hyperdontia.

Related Conditions

A similar condition is Hypodontia, in which there are fewer than the usual number of teeth.

Hyperdontia is seen in a number of disorders, including Gardner’s syndrome and cleidocranial dysostosis where multiple supernumerary teeth are seen that are usually impacted. It is suggested that supernumerary teeth develop from a third tooth bud arising from the dental lamina near the permanent tooth bud or possibly from splitting the permanent tooth bud itself. Supernumerary teeth in deciduous dentition are less common than in permanent dentition