UNILATERAL SUPPLEMENTAL LATERAL INCISOR IN THE MAXILLARY REGION -AN UNCOMMON CASE REPORT

Abstract

Supplemental and supernumerary teeth are two different terminologies which are commonly used in clinical practice in dentistry. However, supplemental teeth usually refer to the teeth which resembles the morphology of normal teeth whereas supernumerary teeth have an atypical anatomic form. Darwin's theory of evolution states that as humans progressed, organs that were only seldom needed, became vestigial which includes the appendix, tail bone and fourth molar.⁽¹⁾ There are numerous aetiological factors for development of extra teeth, which includes lamina hyperactivity, trauma, phylogenetic theory, atavism, environmental influences, and genetic (heredity) connections.⁽²⁾ Supplemental teeth are frequent in the regular dentition in which men are more affected than women in the ratio of 2:1 According to literature evidence, premolars and molars are the most common supplemental teeth, whereas central and lateral incisors are usually rare. Tomes was the first person to coin the term supplemental teeth. ⁽³⁾The  term “superlative” is used as an adjunct for supplemental teeth.⁽⁴⁾ Supplemental teeth usually arise from the lingual region of the accessory teeth bud..

Orofacial digital syndrome, cleft lip and palate, chondroectodermal dysplasia occurs in certain patientswith  extra teeth ^{(5) (6)}Supplemental teeth are usually rare to find in non-syndromic patients. According to Primosch et al, there are two categories of extra teeth: rudimentary teeth which are smaller in size having atypical shapes such as conical, tuberculate, molariform and supplemental teeth which are extra teeth of a regular size and shape.⁽⁷⁾ ‘