[Ten cases of supernumerary premolars and review of the literature].

Abstract

In this study, the modern literature concerning the classification and the incidence of supernumerary teeth and specificly premolars, is reviewed. Extensive reference is given to the aetiology and pathogeny of the existence of supernumerary teeth and the main theories that have been stated until now are described. The diagnostic problems that may result from these are discussed, as well as the methods and ways of their early detection. The unfavourable complications, the prognosis and the treatment of supernumeraries and specificly premolars are described. Finally, the radiografic findings of 10 cases of supernumerary premolars of ours are presented. A statistical analysis concerning sex, morphology, localization, impaction and bilateral presence of supernumerary premolars, that was conducted for the set consisting of these 10 cases and 50 others, that where obtained from the literature, is also presented.