Late development of supernumerary teeth: a report of two cases

Two cases are presented of late developing supernumerary teeth. In the first the patient developed two crops of supernumeraries, both of which were found on radiographic examination following delay in the normal eruption pattern of the permanent dentition. The first crop of four supernumerary teeth were in the maxillary incisor region and were surgically removed; 5 years later four more supernumerary teeth was found in the maxillary canine and mandibular premolar regions, which were also surgically extracted. In the second case two supplemental mandibular premolars were found as an incidental finding on radiographic examination at the age of 15 years following orthodontic treatment, the patient having previously had four first premolars extracted; these supernumerary teeth were not extracted as they were asymptomatic. These cases emphasize the importance of careful review of patients with a history of supernumerary teeth and, where clinically indicated, of further radiographic examination.