Association between maxillary anterior supernumerary teeth and impacted incisors in mixed dentition

Few researchers have investigated the relationship between supernumerary teeth (ST) and impacted incisors. The authors investigated the relationship between ST and impacted incisors in the maxillary anterior area in the mixed dentition.

Using cone-beam computed tomography, the authors diagnosed 417 ST among 294 patients (age range, 6-12 years; 220 boys and 74 girls). The number, morphology, growth orientation, and position of ST were recorded along with the presence of impacted incisors.

The authors reported that 23.1% of patients having ST (n = 68; mean [standard deviation] age 8.5 [1.6] years) also had impacted incisors. Morphology (molariform and odontomelike), growth orientation (normal and no orientation), and position (coronal) of the ST were significantly associated with impacted incisors (P < .05 for all). An increase of 1 year in age was associated with a decreased risk of having ST accompanied by impacted incisors (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 0.92). An increase of 1 ST more than doubled the risk of having an impacted incisor (odds ratio, 2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 3.96).

In this population, the number, morphology, growth orientation, and position of ST as well as the patient's age were associated with impacted incisors in the maxillary anterior area during the mixed dentition.

The presence and morphology of ST should alert the clinician to the increased likelihood of having impacted incisors and the need for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.