Imagine feeling like something is off in your mouth, only to discover you have extra teeth growing in your gums! Known as hyperdontia, this condition causes the growth of too many teeth in your mouth. The additional teeth usually grow directly behind or near your permanent or primary teeth.
The extra teeth in your mouth are also called supernumerary teeth. Usually, children experience extra teeth growing in the gums, although adults can experience it too. But what to do about the additional teeth? In this blog, we’ll discuss the possible causes and treatments of this condition.
What Do the Extra Teeth Growing in Gums Look Like?
The extra teeth growing in your gums could be categorized on the basis of their shape and location. The shapes include these:
- Supplemental, which looks like the tooth it grows near.
- Tuberculate; a shape that resembles a tube or a barrel.
- Compound odontoma, multiple small took-like growths close to each other from this tooth.
- Complex odontoma; a disordered group of tooth-like tissues growing instead of a single tooth.
- Conical also called peg-shaped, this tooth is narrow near the top and wide at the base, with a sharp look.
The extra teeth growing in your gums might be near your molars at the back of your mouth. Sometimes, the tooth grows in line with the molars. Most commonly, the extra tooth grows behind or around the incisors.
Hyperdontia Causes
Although the exact reason why hyperdontia occurs is unknown, a few hereditary conditions are associated with it. These include:
- Gardner’s Syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fabry Disease
- Cleft Palate and Lip
- Cleidocranial Dysplasia
How to Treat Extra Teeth Growing in Gums?
Your oral surgeon will diagnose the extra teeth growing in your gums with the help of a CT scan or dental x-ray. The treatment for supernumerary teeth includes surgical removal and more.
The extra teeth growing in your gums might need to undergo surgical extraction. It might be necessary if:
- The extra teeth have prevented the eruption of a central incisor, resulting in impaction
- The central incisors have been displaced because of the additional tooth
- An associated disorder or disease is present
- The affected person requires alveolar bone grafting due to cleft lip/palate
- The impacted tooth has been severely damaged
Some cases of hyperdontia don’t require treatment. Removing extra teeth might be necessary to avoid additional damage, like gum disease or crooked teeth. If your hyperdontia is causing you mild pain or discomfort, your dentist might recommend taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
What Problems Occur with Hyperdontia?
You might not require treatment for hyperdontia in most cases. Still, it can cause dental issues. These include:
- Trouble chewing food
- Problems with speech
- Issues with the eruption of normal teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Tooth decay since the extra teeth might make it difficult to clean your teeth properly
- Cosmetic issues
What Should I Do Now?
If you have extra teeth growing in your gums, there could be multiple reasons why. Although some individuals do not require treatment, the extra teeth could cause dental issues — which might need surgical treatment. Our Pasadena Oral Surgery team will guide you on the condition and treatments. Visit us at 6429 Fairmont Parkway Suite 102, Pasadena, Texas 77505. You can also dial (281) 299-0053 to schedule an appointment.