How You Can Help Your Child Deal With Hyperdontia
ShareThe standard number of primary teeth a baby should have is 20, while an adult should have 32 teeth. When the number of teeth in the mouth exceeds these norms, the person is said to be suffering from hyperdontia. While the condition might sound rare, it does affect quite a number of people. The extra teeth are known as supernumerary teeth, and they can occur in different parts of the mouth. Most of the times, the teeth are the permanent maxillary anterior incisors in the upper arch of the gum. Most people who have hyperdontia will have about one or two extra teeth, but there are people who have been reported to have as many as 30 extra teeth.
Hyperdontia risk factors
People who develop a large number of supernumerary teeth often suffer from conditions such as having a cleft lip and palate at birth, Gardner's syndrome, and cleidocranial dysplasia. It is believed that the condition is mainly caused by genetic factors. There are some cases which are believed to be caused by environmental factors such as overactivity of the dental lamina during the tooth development process. The dental lamina initiates formation of the tooth germ which eventually becomes the tooth.
Treating hyperdontia
Ideally, additional teeth should be removed as soon as they have been detected. Having extra teeth in the mouth places a lot of functional and aesthetic challenges on a child. Most of the supernumerary teeth cause serious clinical problems if they are left untreated, which means that they should be removed as early as possible.
Problems which accompany hyperdontia
The biggest challenge which people have when dealing with extra teeth is that they cause the other teeth in the mouth to crowd. When the teeth are left unattended, they will need long-term orthodontic procedures to correct. When the teeth are retained, they often lead to the formation of cysts and tumours, which will need surgery to remove.
While it is quite easy to figure out if your child is developing hyperdontia, it is best to consult a dentist for a proper diagnosis. When the case has been confirmed, the dentist will come up with a workable treatment plan. This may include removing the extra teeth and a long-term plan to align the rest of the teeth. It is therefore essential to seek help as soon as you notice your child developing extra teeth because this will help you get a solution in time.