Why do you have extra teeth?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Khanh Nam - Doctor of Dental - Jaw - Facial - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital

Supernumerary teeth is a condition in which your oral cavity has more teeth than the standard number (for baby teeth it is 20 pieces, permanent teeth are 32 pieces). The condition of supernumerary teeth can grow in any position on the teeth. What causes excess teeth and how to treat supernumerary teeth?

1. What are supernumerary teeth?

Extra teeth are extra teeth. In addition to the normal teeth, the extra teeth can squeeze into the interstitial space, move outside or inside the jaw. The most common supernumerary teeth are in the maxillary incisors and permanent teeth. Typically, there are some cases of supernumerated teeth such as:
Budding teeth, crooked teeth: These are teeth that protrude outside the main teeth, crowded, supernumerated teeth above, have a deformed shape, unlike normal teeth. These extra teeth are usually smaller than the permanent teeth and don't have any function. Teething: Occurs during the time when children have permanent teeth. This is a phenomenon where the lower incisors grow in deviation from the standard position on the arch. Wisdom teeth: 4 supernumerary teeth on both sides of the mouth. Wisdom teeth actually do not have a clear task, often grow out of alignment, grow underground, crowd with adjacent teeth and are considered extra teeth that need to be handled.

2. Causes of extra teeth

Dentists give the reasons for supernumerary teeth as:
The tooth germ splits to create 2 supernumerary teeth growing above or the supernumerary teeth in the upper jaw crowded together in the same place. Due to hyperactivity of dentin. Due to inheritance from parents, children are affected. Some cases of cleft lip, skull fracture, and Gardner syndrome are the causes of extra teeth. However, there are also many cases of normal people who also have excess teeth.

3. How to handle supernumerary teeth?

Whether the supernumerary teeth inside or the supernumerary teeth in the upper jaw are easily recognized by the naked eye or by examination and x-ray of the teeth. In some cases, people with supernumerary teeth will have pain and fever, mainly when wisdom teeth are erupting. To handle supernumerary teeth, depending on the situation and degree of impact, the dentist will advise the most appropriate solution.
Some supernumerary teeth need to be extracted, some are unnecessary. To determine whether or not the supernumerary teeth need to be removed, the dentist will determine based on the patient's specific jaw arch. The fact that extra teeth grow but do not create 3 teeth, do not affect chewing function, do not harm teeth, can be kept.
However, in some specific cases, extra teeth need to be removed such as:
Overgrown teeth, excessively deviating from the jaw arch, causing cosmetic loss, affecting the chewing function of the teeth. The extra teeth are misaligned, causing food to get stuck between the teeth, creating an opportunity for bacteria to grow and cause dental disease. Extra teeth insert the main teeth right on the jaw, leaving for a long time leads to misalignment of the bite, changes in the structure of the teeth. Extract excess teeth to support braces, creating space for other teeth to have space to move into the correct and more even position.

4. Is extraction of extra teeth painful, where?

In fact, when removing the supernumerary tooth, you will be given an anesthetic injection. The extraction process will be painless, but after about 30 minutes, the pain will return. The dull pain lasts from 1-2 days, depending on the condition of your teeth. Currently, with modern tooth extraction techniques with the support of dental equipment, the extraction process takes place quickly and reduces pain for patients. So you don't need to worry too much when extracting excess teeth.
At the Department of Dentistry - Jaw - Facial - Vinmec International General Hospital, with a team of experienced, highly skilled and reputable dentists and a system of modern equipment, will help you consult and examine and treat supernumerary teeth (if necessary) quickly and safely.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.