Supernumerary Tooth
Pronunciation: soo-per-NOO-mer-air-ee
An extra tooth that exceeds the normal complement of primary or permanent dentition and requires specific documentation in dental records.
Full Definition
A supernumerary tooth is any tooth that develops in addition to the standard 20 primary or 32 permanent teeth. The most common supernumerary tooth is the mesiodens, which appears in the midline of the maxillary arch. In dental records and insurance claims, supernumerary teeth must be noted with a distinct tooth number or letter designation to avoid chart confusion. Editors reviewing treatment plans and radiograph reports should flag unlabelled references to extra teeth as these can affect surgical coding and claim validity. The presence of a supernumerary tooth is often referenced in oral surgery notes, orthodontic records, and medical history narratives.
Usage
Usage note: When editing records that reference supernumerary teeth, confirm the tooth is assigned a unique identifier (e.g., 'AS' for supernumerary) to prevent billing errors.
In Context
- "The panoramic radiograph revealed a supernumerary tooth between teeth #8 and #9, documented as 'AS' in the chart." — Radiograph report / dental record
- "Failure to label a supernumerary tooth distinctly may result in confusion with standard tooth numbering during claim adjudication." — Insurance narrative quality review