Having a great set of teeth not only makes a person feel confident with themselves, but also helps a person to have an easy time eating and drinking without any issue. While it is true that white teeth in general are perceived as attractive teeth, knowing that having slightly yellow coloured teeth is still considered normal and healthy. There are many kinds of teeth you may see and some might seem different from one person to another. In this DoctorOnCall’s article, we will learn about hyperdontia, a condition affecting teeth that may cause worries.

To understand how hyperdontia can be a concern, you might want to know what are the normal things to know about teeth. When we were a child, we had 20 primary teeth or often we mentioned them as baby teeth. These teeth will then fall out, leaving the 32 permanent adult teeth to replace it. However, with hyperdontia, as the name implies, the number of teeth is more than 32.

Hyperdontia translates to having too many teeth. Hyperdontia is also known as supernumerary teeth. It is not known why hyperdontia occur but it is said to be caused by genetic changes or hereditary. This means those with family members of hyperdontia will likely have hyperdontia. Furthermore, a large number of those with hyperdontia may already live with genetic conditions such as Gardner’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and cleft lip or palate.

Hyperdontia may not be easily seen in children as the extra teeth may seem normal and aligned with the rest of teeth. Extra teeth can appear anywhere in the mouth. It can appear in front, behind or next to healthy adult teeth. These extra teeth may not be visible as it can be embedded below the gums. Such an issue is very true in those with extra molars and does not get routine checked by the dentist. Extra teeth can be in many shapes such as conical, tuberculate and supplemental.

Extra teeth itself in most cases are not a big problem. It does not even cause any pain. However, when the extra teeth come in awkward positions and seem odd or not breaking through the gum, it may affect the other teeth adjacent. This includes preventing regular teeth from coming in, damaging the roots of other teeth and pushing other teeth to be positioned outward. Extra teeth may also cause tooth crowding. Cyst and tumour may also form from hyperdontia. Extra teeth may even cause issues with biting and the jaw position. Impactions can occur resulting from the pressure build-up in the teeth as the tooth is unable to come in straight. The most worrying issue with extra teeth is facial deformities and speech impediments in severe cases. Do you know that the more teeth in the mouth, the more chances for periodontal disease, oral infection and even tooth decay.

When extra teeth have come in, it may be easy to see and diagnose hyperdontia. Unfortunately, many cases of supernumerary teeth may only be discovered after a dental x-ray or when the expected tooth has not come in. Some extra teeth may only be suspected when patients start to have pain, discomfort or chewing issues.

In most cases, treatment such as tooth extraction is done to remove the extra teeth. Teeth extraction may be simple in cases of the supernumerary teeth that already come through the gums with underdeveloped root structures. It can be complex if the extra tooth is already impacted onto the jawbone or pressed on structures such as nerves or neighbouring tooth roots. Aside from teeth extraction, the remaining teeth may require braces to straighten it. Some teeth may also need repairs such as fillings, crowns or veneers.

Can hyperdontia be cured? Yes it can with dentist help. Hyperdontia can never go away on its own. Treatment is essential to fix the issue. The best treatment is when done to a child at an early age. This is because the supernumerary teeth are yet fusing to become permanent teeth which makes tooth extraction much more easier to remove. It is worth noting that not all cases of hyperdontia need to be treated. Hyperdontia that does not cause problems may be left untreated but of course it is best to get checked by a dentist to know if you really need treatment for this extra tooth.

In essence, hyperdontia is a condition when there are more teeth than the normal, which is 32 in adults and 20 in children. Hyperdontia may or may not be treated but the best way to know if hyperdontia needs any medical treatment is to get checked by a dentist. Getting regular dentist appointments is the best way to detect hyperdontia in an early stage. Treatment often revolves around tooth extraction to remove the extra teeth. Although hyperdontia is not a dangerous condition, some cases of hyperdontia can cause many complications affecting oral health issues when left untreated.