Rudimentary Impacted Supernumerary Tooth-Its detection & Management: A Case Report

Abstract

Supernumerary teeth, or hyper-dontia, is an odontostomatologic anomaly when there is excess tooth substance than the usual configuration of 20 deciduous, and 32 permanent teeth. They occur in many forms and positions and are potentially disadvantageous as they can block the eruption path of teeth, as well as cause deviations in normal occlusions like midline diastemas, and thus pre-emptive diagnosis and removal is indicated. A 24-year-old female presented with a complaint of pain in the area of upper central incisors on the application of pressure, to our diagnostics department. Intra-oral examination revealed a small bulge in the area between the apexes of tooth no. 21 and 22. It was initially misdiagnosed with complex odontoma based on her past medical history (surgical removal of bone mass in the same area 5 years ago). A CBCT was advised to investigate further, which revealed a supernumerary tooth, concluding our diagnosis. Since the tooth was causing discomfort to the patient, surgical removal was advised and carried out promptly. 80% of all supernumerary teeth are located in the anterior medial region of the maxilla. It’s usually discovered as a result of a patient's complaint or when they seek treatment for malocclusion or bony swelling. Performing the appropriate and detailed image analysis is critical for correct diagnosis in locating and identifying the positioning of the tooth, and for efficient surgical planning.