Sheng et al.

Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 78-79.

Cystic change of embedded supernumerary teeth
Wenjie Sheng, DDS, Peicheng Xu, DDS, MSD, Yimin Sheng, DDS, and Zheng Cha,DDS
Shanghai Xuhui Dental Hospital, Shanghai, P. R. China
Clinical records and radiographs of 166 embedded supernumerary teeth were investigated to find out therule of cystic change of supernumerary teeth and its relationship to malocclusion, and to present themethods of therapy. This study showed that 66% of the crowns of the supernumerary teeth were showed
different sizes of circular photic shades, but only 35% were proved to be cystic change by biopsies.
Therefore, if the diagnosis can be made in these cases with indication of operation, the extraction of thesupernumerary teeth must be done as soon as possible. (Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 78-79.)
Key Words: cystic change, embedded supernumerary teeth, pathology, X-ray.

Introduction
Embedded supernumerary teeth are often taken place in the grown process.1-3 In order to understand therule of cystic change of supernumerary teeth and its relationship to malocclusion, 100 patients in our clinic
are analyzed by radiograph and pathology.

Materials and Methods
The data were collected from 1995 to 1999 in Shanghai Xuhui Dental Hospital. There are totally 100
patients with embedded supernumerary teeth, including 75 male and 25 female. The age is arranged from 6
to 50- year old, including 7% under 6-year old, 79% from 7 to 12-year old, and 14% above 14-year old.
Each case was analyzed by radiograph and pathology.

Results
There are totally 166 supernumerary teeth in these 100 patients. All are located in the maxillary bone.
The 42% patients have one supernumerary tooth, 52% have two supernumerary teeth, and 6% have 3supernumerary teeth or more.
The radiograph results are shown in Figs. 1 to 3. For the case that its shape of crown of supernumerary
tooth is larger than 2 mm, it means there is a high risk for becoming cyst. In this study, there are totally 66
cases whose shape is larger than 2 mm by radiograph, while, 35 cases of them are the cyst proven bypathology.

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Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 78-79.

12Fig. 1. The shade of crown of supernumerary tooth less than 2 mm.
Fig. 2. The shade of crown of supernumerary tooth larger than 2 mm.
Fig. 3. Dentigerous cyst.

3Discussion
The reason for the happening of supernumerary teeth is not very clear now. However, supernumeraryteeth will result in cyst and other pathological change in the maxillary bone. Therefore, if the diagnosis ofsupernumerary teeth can be made with indication of operation, especially for the shape of crown ofsupernumerary tooth larger than 2 mm, the extraction surgery should be done as soon as possible.

References
1. von Arx T. Anterior maxillary supernumerary teeth: a clinical and radiographic study. Aust Dent J 1992; 37: 189-95.
2. Zilberman Y, Mairon M, Shteyer A. Assessment of 100 children in Jerusalem with supernumerary teeth in premaxillary
region. J Dent Child 1992; 59: 45-7.
3. Shen WJ, Shen YM, Zha Z et al. The clinical and pathologic study of embeded supernumerary teeth. Shanghai Kou
Qiang Yi Xue 2001; 10: 108-9, 118.

Reprint request to:Dr. Wenjie Sheng
Department of Dental Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Dental Hospital, Shanghai, P. R. China
FAX: +86-21-64226933
Received November 10, 2003. Revised July 13, 2004. Accepted on September 2, 2004.
Copyright ©2004 by the Editorial Council of the International Chinese Journal of Dentistry.

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