Hyperdontia

Hyperdontia refers to a condition where a person develops more than the normal amount of teeth, which are twenty primary (baby) teeth and thirty-two permanent (adult) teeth. Usually, primary teeth start to erupt (grow) around six months and have all fall out by twelve years. These primary teeth are then usually replaced by the permanent teeth. However, hyperdontia is a disorder which results in extra teeth (supernumerary teeth) which can occur in any part of the dental arch. Most often, supernumerary teeth are permanent teeth incisors in the maxillary (upper) arch or the mandibular (lower) arch, or they may also be present in the premolar or molar region (either erupted or impacted).

This condition is quite rare and usually only results in one extra tooth. However multiple supernumerary teeth are possible too. This disorder usually occurs in combination with other disorders or syndromes, such as a cleft palate, Gardner’s Syndrome, or cleidocranial dysplasia. Hyperdontia can cause numerous problems, such as teeth blockage, crowding or displacement.

Although the cause of hyperdontia is not clear, there are treatment options available that you should discuss with your dentist, orthodontist or oral surgeon.

When to seek expert advice

Hyperdontia and extra teeth most often lead to a number of significant clinical problems that would lead to more cosmetic and functional problems, and therefore more extensive treatment. Therefore, it is strongly advised to visit your dentist, orthodontist or oral surgeon as soon as you notice problems associated with normal teeth growth.

If an orthodontist can see that a child has hyperdontia, they may be able to fix the problem before the extra teeth would cause problems to the permanent teeth when they start to emerge. Thus, most orthodontists strongly believe that a child should be evaluated by the time they are seven years old, and that you should pay regular visits to your dentist (about every six months), so that they may catch any abnormalities before they progress.