Supernumerary teeth and mental retardation: the importance of early surgical intervention

AIM: This paper reported a rare case of hyperdontia in a child of 10 years who revealed a mixed dentition and a light mental retardation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The therapeutic approach has been based on interdisciplinary cooperation between the pediatric dentist, orthodontist and oral surgeon. TC-Dentascan, with a panoramic and occlusal radiographs revealed the presence of two supernumerary teeth in the premaxillary region and clinical examination showed an abnormality of dentoalveolar complex. Both impacted supernumerary teeth were extracted under general anesthesia. Clinical examination revealed that they appeared two premolars in shape with fully formed crowns and partly formed roots. RESULTS: Three months after the extraction of supernumerary teeth there was a spontaneous eruption of permanent central incisors and left lateral incisor. CONCLUSION: The authors emphasized the importance of removal of supernumerary teeth to eliminate the cause of a delayed eruption of permanent teeth.