Unusual Supernumerary Teeth and Treatment Outcomes Analyzed for Developing Improved Diagnosis and Management Plans

Supernumerary teeth (SNTs) are teeth or tooth-like structures that have erupted or might erupt in addition to the 20 primary or 32 permanent teeth. The simultaneous presentation of multiple SNTs, syndrome-related multiple SNTs, SNTs inside the maxillary sinus and treatment outcomes were analyzed to develop improved diagnosis and management plans.

This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of National Cheng Kung University Hospital patients who had undergone surgical intervention with general anesthesia between February 2014 and September 2018; analyzed panoramic radiographs and cone beam computed tomography scans of their multiple SNTs; and used descriptive statistics to discuss treatments and relative complications, especially of unusual SNTs.

The records of 165 patients (127 male and 38 female patients; mean age, 12.4 years) with 241 SNTs (120 patients had 1 SNT, 35 had 2 SNTs, 3 had 3 SNTs, 2 had 4 SNTs, 2 had 5 SNTs, 2 had 6 SNTs, and 1 had 12 SNTs) were reviewed. There were 185 SNTs in the maxilla and 56 in the mandible; 153 were mesiodens and 115 were inverted; 142 were asymptomatic and 137 were conical; and 228 were fully impacted and 210 were partial roots. Two patients had SNTs inside the maxillary sinus, and one had 5 SNTs and Marfan syndrome. Two patients had postoperative lip or chin paresthesia, and two had postoperative sinusitis.

Patient demographic variables provided useful epidemiologic information. We recommend panoramic radiographs or cone beam computed tomography for managing patients with possible multiple SNTs and for extracting SNTs.