What is Hyperdontia?

Hyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth that appear in addition to the regular number of teeth.

What are the symptoms of Hyperdontia?

The most common symptoms or sign of Hyperdontia is when you can’t chew properly or your extra teeth start to cut your mouth when you chew, as well as experiencing pain or discomfort due to overcrowding. The main symptom of hyperdontia is actually seeing the growth of extra teeth directly behind or close to your permanent teeth. Hyperdontia is twice as common in men than in women.

The extra teeth are categorised based on their shape or location in the mouth, these are;

Supplemental. The tooth is shaped similarly to the type of tooth that it grows near.
Tuberculate. The tooth has a tube or barrel-like shape.
Compound odontoma. The tooth is made up of several small, tooth-like growths near each other.
Complex odontoma. Rather than a single tooth, an area of tooth-like tissue grows in a disordered group.
Conical, or peg-shaped. The tooth is wide at the base and narrows out near the top, making it look sharp.

The locations of extra teeth include;

Paramolar. An extra tooth grows in the back of your mouth, next to one of your molars.
Distomolar. An extra tooth grows in line with your other molars, rather than around them.
Mesiodens. An extra tooth grows behind or around your incisors, the four flat teeth at the front of your mouth used for biting. This is the most common type of extra tooth in people with hyperdontia.

What are the causes and treatment of Hyperdontia?

While a single excess tooth is relatively common, multiple hyperdontia is rare in individuals with no other associated diseases or syndromes. Many supernumerary teeth never erupt, but they may delay eruption of nearby teeth or cause other dental problems.
When an individual develops multiple supernumerary teeth, it often is associated with a variety of conditions or syndromes such as cleidocranial dysplasia, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, Gardner syndrome, or cleft lip and palate.

It is important to detect and treat supernumerary teeth as soon as possible because the additional teeth will cause problems for the affected individual. As a majority of supernumerary teeth can cause clinical problems, treatment generally consists of removal of the teeth when possible. However, some cases of hyperdontia don’t need treatment. Your dentist will also likely recommend removing the extra teeth if you;

have an underlying genetic condition causing the extra teeth to appear
can’t chew properly or your extra teeth cut your mouth when you chew
feel pain or discomfort due to overcrowding
have a hard time properly brushing your teeth or flossing because of the extra teeth, which could lead to decay or gum disease
feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about the way your extra teeth look

Hyperdontia isn’t often painful. Although the extra teeth can often add pressure on your jaw and gums, making them swollen and painful. Overcrowding caused by hyperdontia can also make your permanent teeth look crooked. If hyperdontia is starting to affect your dental hygiene or other teeth, like delaying the eruption of your permanent teeth, then it’s best to remove them as soon as possible. This will help avoid any serious or lasting effects, such as gum disease or crooked teeth. If the extra teeth only cause you mild discomfort then it is recommend to take anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen but only one tablet every few hours.

If you think you or your child are showing signs of Hyperdontia, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark Tangri Dental on 0333 1234 999.

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