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Four Supernumerary Molars in One Maxillary Quadrant: A Case Report
Four Supernumerary Molars in One Maxillary Quadrant: A Case Report
Case Report
Introduction
Of the anomalies affecting number of teeth, supernumerary central maxillary incisors or mesiodens
are most frequently encountered, followed by supernumerary molars14). The reported frequency of
supernumerary molars is 0.45%4). Supernumerary
molars occur more frequently unilaterally in the
maxilla and are often impacted. There are no
gender differences in presence of supernumerary
molars5) and they can also be seen fused to the third
molar68).
Supernumerary teeth in the molar region are
either paramolars or fourth molars (distomolars)
and are usually rudimentary small teeth. Paramolars
are situated distal to the first molar outside of the
dental arch, and fourth molars, or distomolars, are
found distal to the third molar and generally in line
with the dental arch1). They are not completely
developed with a rudimentary conical shape and
are more often smaller in the maxilla than in the
mandible, in which they are equal to the normal
molars5).
The etiology of supernumerary teeth has yet
* Correspondence to: Takehiko Shimizu
E-mail: shimizu.takehiko@nihon-u.ac.jp
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Key words
Supernumerary molar,
Supernumerary tooth,
Tooth anomaly
Case Report
A 7-year-old Japanese female patient was referred
by her general dental practitioner for removal of
a supernumerary tooth. The patient complained of
food impaction in the permanent upper right first
molar region, probably due to the supernumerary
molar. The patient was healthy and showed none
of the features of syndromes commonly associated
with the presence of supernumerary teeth. There
was no family history of supernumerary teeth.
On oral examination, a supernumerary molar
was found palatal to the permanent upper right first
molar, which was displaced buccally (Fig. 1). The
supernumerary molar had a retrogressive crown with
a mesiodistal diameter of 10mm.
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Fig. 1 Intraoral view of the right side of the maxilla showing the supernumerary molar
located palatal to the first molar
Fig. 2 Orthopantomogram showing the maxillary supernumerary molar on the right side
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Discussion
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