Detecting and Managing Supernumerary and Ectopic Teeth

By Becca Taylor, AS, Leciel Bono, RDH-ER, MS and JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AFAAOM

Supernumerary teeth (ST), or hyperdontia, are a developmental anomaly defined as any teeth or tooth structure outside of the normal series of deciduous or permanent dentition.^1,2 These teeth can be unilateral or bilateral and single or multiple. They may involve both arches and can be associated with both deciduous and permanent dentitions.^1–3 Ectopic eruption of teeth into the dental environment is common; however, ectopic eruption of a tooth in other sites is rare. Cases of ectopic ST have occurred in the nasal cavity, maxillary sinus, palate, mandibular condyle, coronoid process, orbit, and chin.^4­­–11 This article provides an overview of ST and ectopic teeth as well as a case report of a supernumerary ectopic tooth in the maxillary right sinus.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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