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Hyperdontia | |
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Other names | Supernumerary teeth, Mesiodens |
Intraoral photograph showing conical mesiodens | |
Specialty | Dentistry |
Symptoms | supernumerary teeth coming out from the gum or in the mouth |
Complications | supernumerary teeth growing into the gum |
Types | 5 [citation needed] |
Causes | Gardner's syndrome Genetic disorder |
Risk factors | supernumerary teeth causing problems in the dental arch |
Differential diagnosis | Hypodontia |
Treatment | Dental surgery |
Hyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth that appear in addition to the regular number of teeth (32 in the average adult). They can appear in any area of the dental arch and can affect any dental organ. The opposite of hyperdontia is hypodontia, where there is a congenital lack of teeth, which is a condition seen more commonly than hyperdontia.[1] The scientific definition of hyperdontia is "any tooth or odontogenic structure that is formed from tooth germ in excess of usual number for any given region of the dental arch."[2] The additional teeth, which may be few or many, can occur on any place in the dental arch. Their arrangement may be symmetrical or non-symmetrical.