Do you have extra teeth in your mouth? Let's talk about this hyperdontia!

Sometimes you may have noticed, or maybe it has happened to you, that you have one or more teeth more than you should have in your mouth. This can happen when baby teeth come in during childhood or when permanent teeth come in later in life. This is what we call hyperdontia in medicine. When you hear about this, you may be a little curious, or even a little scared. But don't worry , we will talk about this in detail and simply.

What is Hyperdontia?

Simply put, hyperdontia is the condition of having one or more teeth in your mouth that are more than the normal number. These extra teeth are also called ``supernumerary teeth.`` How does this happen?

• You may have one extra tooth , or you may have several extra teeth.
• These extra teeth can appear on just one side of the mouth, or on both sides .
• It is usually seen most often on the upper jaw , but it can also occur on the lower jaw. Sometimes it can be present on both jaws.
• These extra teeth can come in alone , or they can come in as a cluster of several teeth .
• Some extra teeth are visible and have ``erupted`` . But some may be hidden within the gums and ``impacted`` . That means they are not coming out but are still inside the jaw.

We usually only have 20 baby teeth when we are young. An adult has 32 permanent teeth. So, if a child has more than 20 teeth, and an adult has more than 32 teeth, that is called hyperdontia.

Is this something that happens to many people?

Now you might be thinking, "Wow, this is so common?" Hyperdontia is actually not that common. It accounts for between 1% and 3% of all dental abnormalities seen by dentists.

This condition can affect about 3.8% of permanent teeth in adults. It is seen in a much smaller proportion, around 0.6%, of baby teeth in young children. What's more, among adults, men are twice as likely to have this condition as women .

What are the most common types of teeth?

These supernumerary teeth can be classified in different ways. One is based on where in the mouth they are located.

Types by location:

• Mesiodens: This is the most common type. You have two front teeth in your upper jaw, and these come directly behind those two teeth.
• Paramolars: These are the large teeth in our jaws that grow beyond the molars, that is, towards the tongue or cheek.
• Distomolars: These come after the last row of teeth in the jaw.

Types by shape:

Also, the shape of these extra teeth can vary:

• Conical: Can have a pointed shape, like a cone. These are the most common shapes.
• Supplemental: This is an extra tooth that looks exactly like a normal tooth. That is, it has the same shape as the other teeth.
• Tuberculate: A barrel-shaped structure, with a slightly rough surface, resembling a small barrel. These are usually a little larger.
• Odontoma: This is a small, harmless tumor that looks like a tooth, but is not cancerous. It may also look like an oddly shaped tooth. This is an ``(Odontoma)`` that forms when individual dental tissues are mixed together.

What are the symptoms of Hyperdontia?

The main characteristic of Hyperdontia is, yes, you guessed it, having one or more extra teeth in the mouth!

Most of the time, these extra teeth do not cause any discomfort or pain. You may even have them without realizing it. However, sometimes, if these extra teeth cause pressure on the gums or jaw, or affect other teeth, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Feeling like other teeth are crowded together (overcrowding)
• Infection , possibly with redness and pus in the gums.

Why are so many teeth coming in? What are the reasons?

Doctors still don't know the exact reason why more teeth are coming in. But there are a few things they think may be contributing to this:

• Genetics: This means it can be hereditary. If someone in your family has had it, you may have a slight chance of getting it too.
• Overactive dental lamina: This is a layer of cells that help our teeth grow. If these cells become a little too active, more teeth can form.
• Atavism: This is a bit of a strange word, isn't it? Simply put, it's the reappearance of a genetic trait that was present in our ancestors and lost over time. Think about it, maybe our ancestors from long ago needed extra teeth to chew raw foods, nuts, and tubers. Maybe that genetic trait is reappearing.
• Certain health conditions: People with certain diseases can also develop extra teeth this way.

Other conditions associated with hyperdontia

While it is not clear why this happens to some people and not others, supernumerary teeth are more common among people with certain medical conditions. Here are a few examples:

• Gardner syndrome
• For children with cleft lip and cleft palate
• For those with Down syndrome
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Cleidocranial dysplasia (a condition that affects the development of the skull and collarbone)
• Fabry disease

This doesn't mean that everyone with these conditions will have extra teeth, but it is more likely to be seen among them.

What complications can occur due to extra teeth?

Sometimes these extra teeth don't cause any problems or complications. However, depending on where those teeth are, some problems can arise. What are these problems?

• Tooth impaction: A partially or completely impacted tooth may become stuck inside the jawbone and cannot come out.
• Difficulty chewing food: You may not be able to chew food properly.
• Overcrowding: Teeth can become crowded, causing them to overlap and create more space for other teeth. This makes it difficult to clean properly when brushing.
• Crooked teeth: Teeth may become crooked and misaligned.
• Malocclusion: A condition where the teeth in the upper jaw and the teeth in the lower jaw do not fit together properly (a "bad bite") can occur.
• Tooth decay / cavities: Too many teeth can make it impossible to clean certain areas properly, making tooth decay more likely.
• Gum disease: Gum infections and diseases can develop.
• Oral cysts: Noncancerous, watery cysts that can form in the mouth, especially around impacted teeth. These can also damage the roots of other teeth.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

Most of the time, this is discovered when you go to the dentist for a routine checkup.

• If more teeth have erupted, the doctor will be able to see them by looking inside the mouth.
• But to see teeth that are impacted (or "impacted"), dental X-rays or, for a more detailed look, CT scans (computed tomography scans) are needed. These X-rays can show the exact position of the tooth and its relationship to other teeth.

How is Hyperdontia treated?

Not everyone needs treatment for this. If your extra teeth aren't causing any problems, your doctor may just tell you to keep an eye on them.

However, if your extra teeth are interfering with your oral health or your ability to chew food, your dentist may recommend removing those teeth (`tooth extraction`). When should teeth be removed?

• If you have difficulty chewing food properly.
• If you continue to feel pain or discomfort .
• If the extra tooth is causing damage to other teeth or causing tooth loss.
• If you have difficulty brushing and flossing properly, sometimes you can't get the brush to the corners because of too many teeth, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
• If you are embarrassed or uncomfortable about the way your extra teeth look.

Sometimes, if there is only a little discomfort or pain, the doctor may prescribe a pain reliever, for example, an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Advil®) or naproxen sodium (Aleve®). However, this should be decided after talking to a doctor.

How serious is this situation?

Having extra teeth is not dangerous or life-threatening. Most people don't need to do anything about it. However, sometimes, if left untreated, it can increase the risk of developing oral health problems, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to other teeth, as mentioned earlier.

If you think you have extra teeth, it's a good idea to see a dentist for a checkup. If hyperdontia is interfering with your oral health or daily activities, your doctor will discuss your treatment options.

Can this be prevented?

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent hyperdontia. This is because it is often caused by genetic factors or something else that happens during tooth development. Although there is nothing you can do to stop your child from getting extra teeth, early detection and treatment can help reduce the complications that can occur later. Therefore, it is important to take your child to regular dental checkups (avoid Gujarati, use Sinhala: regularly) from the time they start teething.

When should I see a doctor?

• Visit your dentist regularly, at least once a year, for dental exams and cleanings. At these times , your dentist can check if you have extra teeth and see if there are any problems with them.
• Also, if you experience any pain, swelling, or discomfort in your mouth or teeth, let your dentist know immediately. Getting treatment early can help reduce the risk of long-term problems.

Questions you can ask your doctor

If you also have hyperdontia, here are some questions you can ask your doctor:

• "Is there any particular reason why I have this many teeth, Doctor?"
• "Should I get something like genetic testing to see if there are any other underlying conditions related to this?" (This may be especially important if someone in the family has the condition, or if there are other symptoms).
• "Do I really need to have these extra teeth removed? Can't I just keep an eye on them?"
• "If you do, what benefits will it bring? What problems could arise if you don't?"

Finally, remember

You may have known for a long time that you have extra teeth in your mouth. Or maybe you only found out after a doctor took an X-ray. However, this condition, called hyperdontia, is not very common, and it usually does not cause much harm.

If your extra teeth aren't causing you pain, are not causing you any problems chewing, or are not causing any problems with your other teeth, you can probably do nothing. However, if you see the first sign of a problem, don't hesitate to call your dentist right away. Remember, getting treatment early can help prevent many more serious problems later on. A healthy smile is worth it to everyone!

` Hyperdontia, extra teeth, supernumerary teeth, dental health, dental problems, oral health, dental treatment