Let’s know the ‘6 Causes of Hyperdontia In Children’ Hyperdontia is an uncommon disorder in which extra teeth develop in the mouth. Children typically have 20 deciduous teeth (primary teeth) by the age of 30 months, whereas adults have 32 permanent teeth by the age of 17.
Primary teeth are gradually replaced by permanent teeth as children develop. Some children may develop extra teeth on either the upper or lower jaw, known as supernumerary teeth. These can be permanent or temporary, depending on when they receive them.
Hyperdontia is a developmental disorder that affects 3.8% of children. Boys are twice as likely as females to be affected. Continue reading to learn about the6 Causes of Hyperdontia In Children.
Types of Hyperdontia
Depending on their position and shape, extra teeth can be categorized.
The following is the classification based on the shape.
- Conical: This tooth is small and peg-shaped (wider base and narrower top) with normal roots.
- Tuberculate: This tooth is barrel-shaped and has a rudimentary root. It often occurs in pairs.
- Supplemental (eumorphic): This can be described as duplication of a tooth. The supplementary tooth is similar to the tooth near it.
- Odontome: This tooth has no defined or regular shape. It appears more like a disorganized and diffused mass of dental tissue.
The following are the types of extra supernumerary teeth based on location.
- Mesiodens: The supplementary tooth is located between two central incisors. It is the most common type of supplementary tooth.
- Paramolar: The supplementary molar or extra tooth grows buccally or palatally (towards the back of the mouth) to one of the molars.
- Distomolar: The tooth grows posterior or distal (behind) the third molar.
- Parapremolar: The extra tooth grows in the premolar region.
Extra teeth can occur as a single tooth or as a group of teeth. Multiple supplemental teeth, on the other hand, are uncommon and are usually associated with disorders such as cleft lip or palate and Gardner syndrome.
Signs of Hyperdontia In Kids
The most noticeable symptom is the development of an additional tooth or teeth near a primary or permanent tooth. Your child may even complain about having an additional tooth in his or her mouth. A doctor can establish the type of supernumerary teeth by analyzing the additional tooth or teeth’s placement and morphology (shape).
6 Causes of Hyperdontia In Children
Hyperdontia’s origins are not fully known. However, the illness has been linked to things like inherited traits, familial propensity, and a hyperactive dental lamina (the part that initiates tooth formation). Check out the 6 Causes of Hyperdontia In Children:
- Cleidocranial dysplasia: This genetic condition affects the development of bones and teeth. Individuals with cleidocranial dysplasia often display the development of supernumerary teeth and retention of primary teeth.
- Cleft lip and palate: This condition is a birth defect and occurs when a baby’s lip or palate of the mouth (upper part of the mouth) does not form properly during pregnancy. This results in an opening in the upper lip and is likely to result in hyperdontia.
- Gardner syndrome: This rare genetic disease causes multiple colorectal polyps and various types of tumors (benign and malignant). This disease can increase the risk of developing supernumerary teeth, along with other dental problems.
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: This genetic group of disorders affects connective tissues supporting blood vessels, skin, bones, and other organs. This condition can cause loose joints and other life-threatening conditions. Dental abnormalities are one of the many symptoms of the condition.
- Down syndrome: This is a genetic condition where an individual has an extra chromosome number. This syndrome is characterized by distinct facial features, intellectual disability (mild to moderate), and birth defects, including the probability of having hyperdontia.
- Fabry-Anderson syndrome: This hereditary disorder causes the accumulation of a certain type of fat in the cells of the body. It may cause several signs and symptoms, like hyperdontia, pain in hands and feet, dark red spots on the skin, hearing loss, and decreased ability to sweat.
How Is Hyperdontia Diagnosed?
X-rays and oral examinations are used to discover supernumerary teeth. In addition to clinical evaluation, healthcare practitioners may thoroughly analyze family and medical history. If there is no eruption of permanent teeth, the existence of supernumerary teeth is suspected.
Treatment Of Hyperdontia In Children
Early detection and treatment of hyperdontia are critical for avoiding complications. The possible treatment choices will be influenced by the position, nature, and impact of the extra teeth on the adjacent teeth or tissues. Treatment options include.
- Extraction or removal: Clinicians may suggest extraction or removal of the supernumerary tooth in the following cases.
- Endodontic therapy (root canal): If a supernumerary tooth has fused with a permanent tooth, then the doctor may recommend root canal treatment.
- Clinical follow-up or frequent observation: In some cases, doctors may not extract the supernumerary tooth but keep it under observation until the eruption of the adjacent teeth. If the child does not face any problems, such as pain, and there is no risk of future complications, like infection, then the doctor might let the extra tooth or teeth remain in the mouth.
- There is a complication associated with it.
- There is a delay in the eruption of a permanent tooth.
- There is an increased risk of infection since extra teeth may make it difficult to maintain oral hygiene.
- There is misalignment, displacement, or rotation of a neighboring tooth.
- Extra teeth cause aesthetic (appearance) or functional issues.
Complications Associated With Hyperdontia In Children
Complications of supernumerary teeth include:
- Failure of eruption: Supernumerary or extra tooth interferes with the normal eruption of the permanent tooth.
- Displacement or rotation: Supernumerary tooth may cause displacement or rotation of a permanent tooth.
- Overcrowding: Growth of extra teeth results in crowding, causing aesthetic or functional problems.
- Diastemas: These extra teeth may also create a gap or space between teeth (usually in the front teeth of the upper jaw).
- Development of odontogenic cyst: Supernumerary teeth can cause the formation of jaw cysts or tumors.
- Root resorption of neighboring (adjacent) teeth: Although rare, supernumerary teeth may cause root resorption (breaking down leading to loss) of neighboring teeth.
- Eruption in the nasal cavity: Sometimes, the extra tooth may erupt in the nasal cavity and can be seen as a white mass in the nasal area.
Some FAQs
At what age does hyperdontia occur?
Hyperdontia has been reported in children as young as three years.
Is hyperdontia painful?
Pain may not occur due to hyperdontia. However, its complications, such as intraoral infection, may result in pain.
Does hyperdontia go away?
Hyperdontia is not reversible on its own. Typically, dentists advise surgical adjustments.
It is uncommon for children to have hyperdontia. It might result in problems with mastication, speech, and appearance. The problem will most likely be diagnosed by your child’s dentist during your routine dental examination. A physical examination might aid a dentist in determining whether extra teeth are present. The disorder might run in families. It is advised to consult a dentist as soon as possible if a tooth is consistently pinching your tongue or cheeks. In most situations, dental extractions are the best option.
Infographic: Is Having Extra Teeth Genetic?
Teeth size, form, and number anomalies can be connected to environmental and hereditary causes. Hyperdontia, or the presence of additional teeth, has been linked to a number of hereditary diseases. Examine the infographic to learn about hereditary illnesses associated with hyperdontia.
