A 11-year-old girl in Brazil has 81 teeth found in her mouth, which has been reported to the academic community./Courtesy of American Journal of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics

It was reported on the 17th that 81 teeth were found in the mouth of an 11-year-old girl in Brazil. An X-ray showed 18 primary teeth and 32 permanent teeth. Generally, adults have 32 permanent teeth. It is very rare to find more than 30 supernumerary teeth.

According to VN Express, an 11-year-old girl living in Brazil visited a hospital to have one upper primary tooth extracted. It was reported that there were no apparent issues. It was only through an X-ray that "multiple hyperdontia" was confirmed.

This condition refers to the congenital anomaly of having multiple additional teeth beyond the normal number of 32 for adults. Supernumerary teeth usually appear in numbers of one or two.

This case was confirmed by a research team at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais, Brazil, during a dental examination and was reported in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

The research team identified the exact position of the teeth through precise imaging examinations. They also checked whether multiple hyperdontia was related to genetic disorders. The girl did not have conditions typically associated with multiple supernumerary teeth, such as cleidocranial dysostosis, Gardner syndrome, or cleft palate.

Genetic chromosome testing revealed a structural abnormality (chromosome inversion) where some segments of chromosome 9 were reversed. Although it is a rare genetic variation, the researchers stated that it is unclear whether it had a direct impact on the occurrence of supernumerary teeth.

Supernumerary teeth can be deeply embedded in the gums or have forms similar to normal teeth, making accurate differentiation difficult. There is also a risk of jawbone damage if teeth are indiscriminately extracted, making treatment challenging. Therefore, the research team is forming a team with various specialties, including orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, and prosthodontics, to develop a long-term treatment plan.

The researchers noted, "The phenomenon of dozens of supernumerary teeth occurring in children without genetic disorders demonstrates the diversity of human development," adding, "It is important to detect abnormalities early through regular dental checkups and respond appropriately."