Even if the incisor has not erupted it has usually come down such that the crown is
just submucosal and only requires minimal exposure of the incisal edge, aiming to
minimize loss of attached gingiva (960HFig. 14.24 (a)-(c)).
- Supplemental teeth of normal morphology cause localized crowding unless there is
generalized spacing in the arch. 961HFigure 14.25 shows a supplemental upper lateral
incisor, and treatment consists of extracting one of the two lateral incisors in that
quadrant. One is often smaller than the other and, if possible, the tooth that matches
the contralateral incisor should be retained, but the severity of displacement and
difficulty of orthodontic alignment must also be taken into account.
962H
Fig. 14.22 An erupted conical mid-line
supernumerary which has not prevented
eruption of 1|1, but has displaced |1.963H
Fig. 14.23 (a) and (b) Failure of
eruption of 1|1 due to the presence of
two tuberculate supernumerary teeth.
(Photos courtesy of Mr T. G. Bennett.)