Characteristics, clinical features and treatment of supernumerary teeth

Abstract

Aims: To determine the characteristics, clinical features and treatment of supernumerary teeth in a general district hospital in the North of Jordan.Design: This retrospective study was conducted at Prince Rashid Al-Hassan Hospital in Irbid. The medical records of 139 patients who were diagnosed to have supernumerary teeth during the period April 1993 - June 2007 were reviewed. Clinical data on the location, number, eruption status, stages of development, and the types of supernumerary teeth were recorded, along with information on demographics, treatment, associated systemic syndromes, effects on adjacent teeth, and treatment. Results: The male to female ratio was 2.2:1. Of the 186 supernumerary teeth investigated (65.0%) were conical, (23.7%) supplemental, (10.8%) tuberculate and (0.5%) odontoma. Two-thirds of the supernumeraries were erupted. Of this sample (21.6%) patients had multiple supernumerary teeth. The most frequent location was at the premaxilla level. The most common effect on adjacent teeth was delayed eruption (23.1%). Simple and surgical extractions of supernumerary teeth were done for (81.7%) of the cases and orthodontic treatment was needed in (74.1%) of patients. Conclusion: Supernumerary teeth are an uncommon dental entity. An early diagnosis prevents or reduces the risk of complications and when combined with an earlier removal has a better prognosis.