DENTAL ANOMALIES
ANOMALY - deviation from normal, usually related to embryonic development that may result in the absence,
excess, or deformity of body parts.
ANODONTIA
TOTAL - Total congenital absence
(TRUE ANODONTIA) - Associated with generalized congenital deformation involving abnormal
development of the ectoderm or outer embryonic cell layer.
PARTIAL - Involves one or more missing teeth
(CONGENITALLY - Most common: maxillary third molar
MISSING TEETH) - 2nd: maxillary lateral incisor
- 3rd: mandibular 2nd premolar
SUPERNUMERARY TEETH
● MAXILLARY INCISOR - most common location of supernumerary teeth.
○ MESIODENS - forms between CI. cone shaped crown and short root.
● THIRD MOLAR (DISTOMOLAR, PARAMOLAR, 4TH MOLAR) - distal to 3rd molar common in
premolar arch but does not occur in mandibular
● MANDIBULAR PREMOLAR - between 1st & 2nd premolar. Resembles normal premolar in shape and
size
ABNORMAL CROWN MORPHOLOGY
● THIRD MOLAR MALFORMATION - maxillary 3rd molar have the most common variable crown
shape followed by mandibular 3rds.
● PEG SHAPED LATERAL INCISOR - most common anomaly in ant region. Conical shape and broadest
cervical and tapers towards incisal to a blunt point. Develops from 1 lobe instead of 4 lobes.
● GEMINATION/TWINNING - splitting or twinning of a single forming tooth. Appears doubled in width.
Single root and has a common pulp canal. Most common in the maxillary incisor and canine.
● FUSION - union of 2 adjacent tooth germs. Involves dentin. Radiograph reveals 2 separate but fused
roots with separate pulp chambers.
● HUTCHINSON’S INCISORS & MULBERRY MOLARS - when a syphilis infected mother passes it on to
her unborn baby, baby teeth may develop unusual shapes.
○ HUTCHINSON - screwdriver shaped, broad cervically, narrow incisally, notched incisal edge.
Resembles the crown of fused incisors.
○ MULBERRY - 1st molar’s occlusal anatomy have multiple tiny tubercles with poorly developed
cusps. Berry-like shape.
ANOMALY - deviation from normal, usually related to embryonic development that may result in the absence,
excess, or deformity of body parts.
ANODONTIA
TOTAL - Total congenital absence
(TRUE ANODONTIA) - Associated with generalized congenital deformation involving abnormal
development of the ectoderm or outer embryonic cell layer.
PARTIAL - Involves one or more missing teeth
(CONGENITALLY - Most common: maxillary third molar
MISSING TEETH) - 2nd: maxillary lateral incisor
- 3rd: mandibular 2nd premolar
SUPERNUMERARY TEETH
● MAXILLARY INCISOR - most common location of supernumerary teeth.
○ MESIODENS - forms between CI. cone shaped crown and short root.
● THIRD MOLAR (DISTOMOLAR, PARAMOLAR, 4TH MOLAR) - distal to 3rd molar common in
premolar arch but does not occur in mandibular
● MANDIBULAR PREMOLAR - between 1st & 2nd premolar. Resembles normal premolar in shape and
size
ABNORMAL CROWN MORPHOLOGY
● THIRD MOLAR MALFORMATION - maxillary 3rd molar have the most common variable crown
shape followed by mandibular 3rds.
● PEG SHAPED LATERAL INCISOR - most common anomaly in ant region. Conical shape and broadest
cervical and tapers towards incisal to a blunt point. Develops from 1 lobe instead of 4 lobes.
● GEMINATION/TWINNING - splitting or twinning of a single forming tooth. Appears doubled in width.
Single root and has a common pulp canal. Most common in the maxillary incisor and canine.
● FUSION - union of 2 adjacent tooth germs. Involves dentin. Radiograph reveals 2 separate but fused
roots with separate pulp chambers.
● HUTCHINSON’S INCISORS & MULBERRY MOLARS - when a syphilis infected mother passes it on to
her unborn baby, baby teeth may develop unusual shapes.
○ HUTCHINSON - screwdriver shaped, broad cervically, narrow incisally, notched incisal edge.
Resembles the crown of fused incisors.
○ MULBERRY - 1st molar’s occlusal anatomy have multiple tiny tubercles with poorly developed
cusps. Berry-like shape.
