11-Year-Old Girl Has More Teeth Than She Should Have: Here Are Facts About Hyperdontia

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons) Hyperdontia is a rare dental condition that results in too many teeth growing in an individual’s mouth. These extra teeth are also called supernumerary teeth.

The absence of teeth or hypodontia and the presence of supernumerary teeth or hyperdontia in one patient is said to be a rare condition.

According to a 2015 report, early diagnosis and proper treatment were quite essential in dealing with such an abnormality in mixed dentition. The method would rely on the seriousness of the occurrence, as well as the diagnosis' timing.

In this case, an 11-year-old girl experienced absence of her permanent maxillary lateral incisor as well as her mandibular second premolars, with connected existence of supernumerary teeth in the right mandibular lateral incisor's region.

Based on the examinations, the child was diagnosed with hypo-hyperdontia. To address the condition, the supernumerary teeth were surgically removed.

There was also an esthetic restoration for the transformation of the permanent mandibular canines to become lateral incisors.

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What is Hyperdontia?

This is a rare dental condition that results in too many teeth growing in an individual's mouth. As earlier mentioned, these extra teeth are also called supernumerary teeth.

Extra teeth can grow anywhere inside the mouth, specifically, in the curved areas known as the dental arches, where teeth attach to the jaw.

Dental experts say the 20 teeth that grow as a child are called primary or deciduous teeth. Meanwhile, the 32 adult teeth replacing the child teeth are the popularly known permanent teeth.

Symptoms 

The main hyperdontia symptom is the growth of teeth behind or close to a human's permanent or primary teeth.

Although the case mentioned earlier involved an 11-year-old girl, extra teeth typically appear in adults. However, the cases are two times more occurrent in men than they are in women.

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Causes

The main cause of hyperdontia remains unknown. However, it appears to be linked with some hereditary circumstances. 

One of these conditions is the Gardner's syndrome, a rare hereditary illness that leads to skin cysts, and skull and colon growths.

Another condition is the Ehler's Danlos Syndrome, another inherent disease which leads to loose joints that dislocate easily.

A common cause of hyperdontia is cleft palate and lip. This is a birth disorder which causes an opening in the mouth or upper lip's roof, difficulty eating or speaking, or ear inflammation.

Hyperdontia Treatment

While some hyperdontia cases don't require treatment, others need the removal of the extra teeth. The dentist is more likely to recommend the removal of extra teeth if the patient has an underlying genetic condition that causes the appearance of extra teeth.

The dental specialist might also recommend the removal of extra teeth if the patient is unable to chew properly, or if the extra teeth are cutting the mouth when chewing.

If the patient finds it hard to brush his teeth or flossing due to the presence of extra teeth, the doctor is also likely to recommend surgery or removal to avoid gum disease or decay.

If the extra teeth already begin to impact the patient's other teeth or dental hygiene, it is best to have them removed the soonest possible time.

By doing so, any lasting effect like crooked teeth or gum disease, can be avoided. Nonetheless, if the extra teeth only cause an individual mild discomfort, the doctor may recommend the intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, to ease the pain.

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