What You Should Know About Having Extra Teeth.

Growing up in Lagos, I had a friend who went to the same school as I did. We were always together but my friend (let’s call his name Michael) had a problem. He had so many teeth in his mouth and he was frequently teased because of it. I did not realize till my second year in Dental School that quite a number of people have a similar experience. This condition is termed ‘Extra teeth’ (Hyperdontia).

‘Extra Teeth’ is a condition where an individual has more teeth than expected. Typically, an adult possesses 32 permanent teeth that replaces 20 baby teeth in a child. A deviation from this number is an anomaly and is one of the many anomalies that may occur in tooth formation. These extra teeth are sometimes called ‘Supernumerary Teeth’. They may look like natural teeth or look entirely different in some cases.  

Causes 

The presence of extra teeth is mostly linked to a genetic cause which affects the tooth formation process. Its exact cause is not known. It has also been associated with several syndromes including: Gardener’s syndrome, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Cleft lip and palate, Cleidocranial dysplasia. 

Presentation and Diagnosis 

It is usually not associated with any symptoms but is often an incidental finding when an individual presents with a different complaint to a dental clinic or following dental radiographic imaging.

The following are some of the end results of extra teeth: 

• Delayed eruption of adjacent teeth, 
• Deranged occlusion, 
• Overlapping of teeth (crowding) 
• Gap teeth, 
• Damage to adjacent teeth and 
• In more serious cases cysts and tumors. 

These additional teeth may also cause discomfort and may be aesthetically displeasing. Diagnosis is often made through oral examination by a dentist and some x-rays may be requested for confirmation.  

Treatment