Everything you need to know about Hyperdontia
What is Hyperdontia?
Hyperdontia is a condition described by having an excessive number of teeth. The conventional number of primary teeth is 20, and for permanent teeth, it is 32. Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that generally erupt by the age of 3 years and fall off when one is about 12 years old. The permanent teeth then take the primary teeth place and usually erupt completely by the time they reach 21 years of age. A person who develops more than 20 primary teeth or more than 32 permanent teeth has Hyperdontia. The additional teeth are referred to as supernumerary teeth. The presence of additional primary teeth at or shortly after birth are referred to as natal teeth.
What causes Hyperdontia?
The exact cause of Hyperdontia is still unfound, but it is associated with certain genetic conditions:
Gardner’s syndrome: Gardner’s Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that causes skin cysts, skull growths, and colon growths.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is an inherited condition that causes loose joints that easily dislocate, scoliosis, and pain in muscles and joints.
Fabry Syndrome: Fabry’s Syndrome causes the inability to sweat, painful hands and feet, a red or blue skin rash, etc.
Cleidocranial dysplasia: Cleidocranial dysplasia causes the abnormal development of the skull as well as the collarbone.
What are the symptoms of Hyperdontia?
The main symptom of hyperdontia is the growth of extra teeth directly behind or close to your usual primary or permanent teeth. Extra teeth are categorized based on their shape or location in the mouth.
Shape
Supplemental
Tuberculate
Compound odontoma
Complex odontoma
Conical
Location
Paramolar
Distomolar
Mesiodens
At times the extra teeth can pressure the jaw and gums, resulting in them being swollen and painful.
Treatment of Hyperdontia?
The supernumerary teeth can be treated only by removal. It is important to detect, evaluate, and treat supernumerary teeth as early as one can. Considering the additional teeth will present both cosmetic and functional problems for the affected individual.
Final Note:
Hyperdontia is not painful but poses a cosmetic and functional complication. It is necessary for someone suffering from Hyperdontia to visit the dentist as soon as possible to talk about possible treatments and procedures.
