Hyperdontia is a condition where extra teeth appear in the mouth. This can cause problems such as crowding or malocclusion.
Dental anomalies are relatively rare, but hyperdontia is one of the more common ones. It affects 1-3% of people and is characterized by having extra teeth. They may erupt through the gum or be hidden under it. In most cases, they don’t cause any problems, and people with hyperdontia can have an everyday life. However, in some cases, the extra teeth can crowd other teeth and cause problems with chewing and speaking.
Hyperdontia can affect both upper and lower jaws. In some cases, hyperdontia can also occur in combination with other conditions such as cleft lip and palate.
There is no definitive answer as to why hyperdontia occurs, but it seems to be linked with other genetic disorders.
If you have hyperdontia and your mouth feels crowded from your overcrowded teeth, we can help! Hyperdentists have custom Sacramento, California dentistry solutions for adults and children alike. Contact our Sacramento office today.
What is hyperdontia?
Hyperdontia is a condition characterized by the presence of extra teeth often beyond what is considered normal. These extra teeth can be located anywhere in the mouth but are most commonly found in the front of the mouth or along the side of the arch. As a result, the teeth overcrowd the mouth and may feel too numerous. This condition can affect children and adults alike.
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperdontia?
Although not every child with hyperdontia has excessive tooth-growing problems, they are more common in children with certain genetic and medical conditions.
Some signs that you might have a problem with your teeth are:
- A mouth full of teeth that don’t feel fully supported by the surrounding tissue
- A malocclusion (jaw misalignment)
- Jaw pain
What should you expect with hyperdontia
The teeth may not erupt normally. The teeth may look more crowded than other people’s teeth. Teeth may not have enough space for the wisdom teeth to erupt.
Teeth may be more sensitive to pain. You or your child will have a more difficult time when eating. Since the mouth is small and crowded, it may be difficult for a person to eat certain foods. Some foods may need to be cut into small pieces so you or your child can chew them correctly.
If you or your child has hyperdontia, it may be more challenging to brush and floss. You and your child’s teeth may need to be brushed and flossed more frequently than others. You’ll have to brush with a small-headed toothbrush.
You may also experience a more difficult time with speech than others. This may cause self-consciousness or embarrassment in groups or with others.
You may also not have an easy time when smiling. These problems can lead to low self-esteem and make you or your child feel uneasy about themselves.
It is essential to consult with your Sacramento dentist if you or your child have any of the above issues to determine if you have hyperdontia and the proper next steps.
Types of hyperdontia
There are four main types of hyperdontia: supplemental, tuberculate, conical, and odontoma.
- Supplemental hyperdontia is characterized by extra teeth that are similar in shape to regular teeth. This type is usually found at the end of the tooth series.
- Tuberculate hyperdontia is characterized by barrel-shaped teeth with more than one cusp or tubercle.
- Conical teeth are perhaps the most unique. These teeth are shaped like a cone, with a broad base and a narrow tip.
- Compound odontoma is a tooth made up of several small, tooth-like growths near each other. The cause of the compound odontoma is unknown.
- Complex odontoma refers to a condition where an area of tooth-like tissue grows in a disordered group rather than as a single tooth. This can cause problems with the function and appearance of the affected teeth.
How is hyperdontia diagnosed?
Hyperdontia is usually diagnosed during regular dental exams and observations of the child’s mouth. Hyperdentist will look for overgrown teeth, unusual shapes, or other signs that may indicate the condition.
If hyperdontia is suspected, it may be confirmed through x-rays, CT scans, and other imaging reports.
Overgrown teeth can give children food traps and may cause drooling, soreness and discomfort, behavior changes, and speech impediments. Extra teeth can also interfere with chewing and swallowing.
Other health professionals should also consult if your dentist finds an extra tooth in your mouth. An examination is needed to find the cause to differentiate it from other dental diseases. The dentist may refer the child to a pediatric dentist or oral surgeon to help diagnose hyperdontia.
Hyperdontia is usually harmless but can become painful or cause other complications if left unmanaged.
Once hyperdontia is diagnosed, parents and caretakers can help reduce discomfort by taking simple steps such as avoiding hard foods that can hurt the child’s mouth.
If your child is experiencing pain or discomfort, they should be seen at the dentist’s office.
Although management is simple, hyperdontia can lead to health complications if left unattended.
What are supernumerary teeth?
A person with extra teeth is said to have hyperdontia. These additional teeth are known as supernumerary teeth.
Supernumerary teeth can appear in various numbers, positions, shapes, and sizes. They can be found at the buccal or labial surface, distal part of the alveolar process, lingual surface, mesial part of the alveolar process, or between the first permanent molar and second premolar.
Supernumerary teeth can occur in the mouth’s anterior, posterior, or both arches. Multiple supernumerary teeth appear more frequently than single supernumerary teeth.
The most common symptom of a supernumerary tooth is the appearance of additional teeth in the mouth. Supernumerary teeth can interfere with normal tooth development, resulting in the eruption of a permanent tooth into a filled permanent tooth position.
Why do I have hyperdontia?
Hyperdontia is a rare condition that causes your extra teeth to grow. Treatment can be relatively painless and successful when it’s detected early on. The first step is identifying the cause of the overgrowth. The reason for hyperdontia is not entirely understood but is typically found in children with certain genetic and medical conditions.
Contact our office for a consultation if you’ve been misdiagnosed with hyperdontia. We will diagnose the cause of your overgrown teeth and provide a custom orthodontic solution!
Related conditions of hyperdontia
Children with hyperdontia often experience gum disease, malocclusion (teeth misalignment), and a less than average quality of life.
Hyperdontia is usually a symptom of other health problems, like bone disorders or metabolic bone diseases.
In general, children with hyperdontia are more likely to have some type of malocclusions such as an overbite or underbite.
What are the causes and risk factors of hyperdontia?
The cause of hyperdontia is unclear; however, certain medical conditions and genetic factors may increase the risk of developing this condition.
Hyperdontia can occur in children with certain genetic disorders like Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and Smith-Magenis syndrome. Hyperdontia most often occurs in children who have a metabolic bone disease like osteogenesis imperfecta or osteoporosis.
What are the complications of hyperdontia teeth?
Besides their cosmetic issues, hyperdontia teeth can also have related health complications. For example, the extra teeth may lead to more tooth decay and gum disease. Supernumerary teeth are especially prone to dental problems because of the lack of space around them, making them harder to clean. If you are a parent of a child with hyperdontia, you should ensure they get proper dental care every six months and brush their teeth thoroughly at least twice daily.
Why is there a tooth growing on the roof of my mouth?
The short answer is we’re not entirely sure. In some cases, hyperdontia can be affected by a genetic condition. Genetics may cause hyperdontia in several ways, such as the duplication of a gene that causes teeth to grow excessively in the upper and lower jaw. Hyperdontia may also be caused by a DNA defect, a change in the DNA sequence that can affect how genes are expressed. Another possible cause of hyperdontia is when teeth grow too fast because of changes in the metabolism of bone or because they have an increased need for calcium during growth. There are other potential causes, but these are among the most common.
Hyperdentists have custom orthodontic solutions for adults and children alike.
Should I be worried about hyperdontia?
Although not everyone with hyperdontia has tooth-growing problems, they are more common in children with certain genetic conditions and medical conditions like DNA defects or metabolic diseases. There is a significant risk of tooth loss for people with hyperdontia. If you have hyperdontia, you might consider wearing a retainer to avoid excessive tooth damage.
Hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth are teeth that are extra to an individual’s standard set of teeth. These teeth can be deciduous (baby), permanent molars, or both. Generally, this does not pose a health risk and is not usually painful. However, the extra teeth can put pressure on the jaw, which may cause discomfort.
How do you fix hyperdontia?
If you have hyperdontia, you will likely have a second tooth in the place where the normal tooth would be. This tooth is called a supernumerary molar, or an extra permanent molar, and it is pushed up from the jawbone over the first permanent molar. The excess space created by this extra molar can cause issues with your bite and lead to problems like malocclusions (bad bites), TMJ, and other dental conditions. When fixing hyperdontia, you must do dental work to remove that extra tooth or teeth. This might involve taking out one or more of your baby teeth. Alternatively, if you have a healthy set of teeth on both sides of your mouth, you might be able to remove one of your permanent molars. After this treatment, ensure you continue to schedule checkups with your dentist every 6-12 months for ongoing care!
How much does tooth extraction cost?
Tooth extraction is a significant dental procedure that requires an experienced dentist to help you. The exact cost will depend on your specific situation and the complexity of the procedure. While it does not always have the precise cost as other procedures, it can range widely for more complicated cases. Generally, your extra tooth or teeth will need to be removed, and braces may be required to properly align your teeth after extraction.
When is it time to seek dental treatment?
When you notice you are sprouting extra teeth in unusual places in your mouth, it can signify a few different things.
Most people have an average of 32 adult teeth. Every one of these teeth has a place in your mouth and serves a purpose. However, some people develop extra teeth. When this happens with an abnormally high number of teeth, you could be suffering from a condition called supernumerary teeth or supernumerary teeth syndrome. Supernumerary teeth are growths that arise in addition to the usual number of teeth. They can be found in any region of the mouth.
You may experience pain when you eat. Soreness is generally the way your body tells you that something is wrong.
Sometimes, the extra tooth is a molar that did not come in at the usual time. In others, it can be a wisdom tooth called third molars. Also, in some cases, an additional tooth is an extra tooth that is attached to a regular tooth.
It is essential that your dentist identifies any new growths and notifies you. The dentist will have the tools to determine if the tooth is completely developed or not. You also need to look for any swelling or inflammation around the growth. How do I treat my extra tooth? If you are fortunate enough to have an extra tooth almost fully formed, you will have options for removal. Usually, the removal can be done under local anesthesia at your dentist’s office.
See your dentist, inquire about the extra tooth, and get your dentist’s medical opinion. Go to the dentist as soon as you notice something different about your mouth or if you have any pain.
Can braces fix hyperdontia?
Yes. Often, hyperdontia teeth may be fixed with teeth extraction and other times with a combination of extraction and braces by using brackets to hold them in place and sometimes surgery to correct their shape. A child with more teeth than expected may need orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth and align the jaw. If you have hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth, you should talk to your Sacramento dentist about how it can be corrected.
If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Soft Touch Dentistry in Sacramento, California, call us at 916-424-1703. We’ll see you soon!
