Clinical epidemiological analysis of 173 supernumerary molars

Acta Odontol Scand. 2012 Sep;70(5):398-404. doi: 10.3109/00016357.2011.629629. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of supernumerary molars in a sector of the population of Madrid, as well as the possible complications associated with the presence of hypergenetic molars.

Materials and methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was carried out, which included a data assessment of all patients (13557) seeking dental care at a hospital's department of oral surgery across 4 years. The proposed methodology consisted of preparing a medical record in order to obtain data on the medical record number, age and sex of the patient, radiological findings such as location and type of supernumerary molar, retained/erupted molar, related accidents and tooth morphology.

Results: Supernumerary molars were found to be present in 130 patients, representing a prevalence of 0.96% of the total population studied. These patients had a total of 173 hypergenetic molars, consisting of 137 distomolars and 36 paramolars Mechanical-obstructive pathology was associated with 28.9%, whereas enlargement of the follicular sack bigger than 3 mm was present in 16.2% of the sample.

Conclusion: Supernumerary molars are usually diagnosed as a coincidental radiological finding without any associated pathology. However a higher percentage of comorbidity was found than initially expected.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Dental Sac / pathology
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mandible / pathology
  • Maxilla / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Molar / abnormalities*
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Tooth, Impacted / epidemiology
  • Tooth, Supernumerary / epidemiology*
  • Tooth, Unerupted / epidemiology
  • Young Adult