Most people have 20 baby teeth & 32 adult teeth. But for a minority of the population that experiences a condition known as hyperdontia, extra teeth appear in addition to their usual set. Hyperdontia can affect both baby teeth & adult teeth, but it is rare, affecting up to 3.8% of adult teeth & 0.6% of baby teeth.
The extra teeth can appear anywhere in the mouth, visible or hidden under the gums. The most common ones appear near the two front teeth (mesiodens), behind the molars (paramolars) & behind the wisdom teeth (distomolars). They can also come in different shapes, varying from looking like replicas of your normal teeth (supplemental) to being cone-shaped, barrel-shaped or even just clusters of tooth tissue.
What’s the Cause?
There are various reasons for why someone may have hyperdontia. Exact reasoning is unclear, but research shows that hyperdontia can run in families, with specific genetic factors linked to the development of extra tooth buds during growth. Certain genes involved in tooth formation can misfire, leading to extra teeth rather than just the standard set. Some genetic syndromes, such as Gardner’s syndrome, Fabry disease & cleidocranial dysplasia, also show higher rates of extra teeth.
Other theories point to the dental lamina—the tissue in developing jaws that give rise to tooth buds. If this tissue is overactive, it can produce extra buds, which grow into extra teeth. Another reason stems from the concept of atavism—traits from our evolutionary ancestors resurfacing. Perhaps our ancestors’ larger jaws had more teeth to grind up their raw food diets & the “ghosts” of those teeth sometimes show up.
What’s the Harm?
Extra teeth are usually not painful, but they do come with their own set of problems.
Extra teeth take up space in a mouth built for a set number. They can push other teeth out of line, making smiles look crooked & bites feel weird as your jaw struggles to accommodate the surplus. Depending on where they erupt, extra teeth can also interfere with chewing & even affect speech patterns if they change your bite or tongue movement.
In even worse case scenarios, some extra teeth can stay trapped underneath gum & bone & never surface, pressing against other teeth & causing tenderness, swelling & infection. In rare cases, cysts can form around extra teeth & roots of nearby teeth may get damaged if crowding becomes severe.
If all of that were still not enough, more teeth also lead to more nooks & crannies to clean. Hard-to-reach places make brushing & flossing tricky, increasing the risk of tooth decay & gum disease.
So What Can One Do?
If the extra teeth are not causing problems, your dentist may simply keep an eye on them with regular check-up exams & X-rays.
However, if the teeth are interfering with function or oral health, the most commonsolution</a is extraction. Removing the extra teeth will create space for normal teeth, prevent misalignment & improve hygiene & comfort.
After removing extra teeth, any affected crooked or crowded teeth may need orthodontic treatment to reposition everything into a harmonious smile. In more severe cases, fillings, crowns or cosmetic options may also be needed to restore teeth affected by decay caused by the overcrowding.
Extra teeth may be a pain to some, but with modern dental care’s routine check-ups & the right dental plan, even a surplus of teeth can be managed & dealt with smoothly.
Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hyperdontia
https://denpedia.com/supernumerary-or-extra-teeth-an-in-depth-exploration/
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-is-hyperdontia-extra-teeth
What is Hyperdontia? Extra Teeth Causes, Problems and Treatments