Treatment Indications & Timings
Early treatment indications
➤ Obstruction of normal dental development
Supernumeraries can obstruct normal dental eruption and cause impaction, spacing or crowding to eventuate. Early treatment can intercept these problems.
➤ Pathology associated with the supernumeraries
Similar to unerupted or ectopic teeth, supernumeraries can present with cystic pathology or resorption/damage to the adjacent teeth.
Comprehensive treatment indications
➤ Ectopic or impacted teeth
Supernumeraries are a common cause of ectopic or impacted teeth, especially maxillary incisors. These require surgical and orthodontic intervention.
➤ Crowding associated with supernumeraries
Supernumeraries can cause a tooth-arch size discrepancy if erupted as it will increase the collective teeth size without an increase of arch/jaw size, hence crowding occurs. The removal of the supernumerary should be a consideration for the crowding treatment.
➤ Pathology associated with the supernumeraries
Similar to unerupted or ectopic teeth, supernumeraries can present with cystic pathology or resorption/damage to the adjacent teeth.
➤ Significant diastema, midline shifts or asymmetry
A supernumerary can displace adjacent teeth causing a diastema, midline shift or even significant arch asymmetry. These can be significant patient concerns and indicated for treatment.
