title: Prevalence of supernumerary teeth in a nonsyndromic Syrian sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Supernumerary teeth (ST), also known as hyperdontia, is a condition in which more than the normal number of teeth are present in the series. The prevalence of ST varies between and within different populations. These teeth may cause various complications. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ST in Damascus inhabitants, Syria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out using retrospectively collected digital panoramic radiographs of 2753 patients (1047 males and 1706 females) ranging in age from 12.2 to 20.5 years between January 2012 and December 2014. These radiographs were obtained from private dental offices spread across Damascus, Syria. For each patient with ST, the demographic variables, number, location, type, position, morphology of ST, and complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ST were detected in 39 patients (1.4%), of whom 25 (64.1%) were males and 14 (35.9%) were females, with a male to female ratio of 1.8 : 1 (P<0.001). Mesiodens was the most prevalent ST (39.1%), followed by supernumerary premolars (28.3%), supernumerary laterals (26.1%), distomolars (4.3%), and paramolars (2.2%). This series includes cases with one and two ST. Of the 46 ST detected, 56.5% had a conical morphology, 89.1% were in a vertical position, and 19.6% were erupted. ST caused displacement of the adjacent teeth in 17 cases (37.0%) and the impaction of the permanent teeth in five cases (10.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of ST in Damascus inhabitants was found to be 1.4%; the most frequent type was mesiodens. A conical morphology was found to be the most common form of ST. Displacement of permanent teeth is the most frequent complication. Further studies should be carried out on more representative samples of both the public and the private sector patients.
authors: aDepartment of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University Damascus, Departments of bPediatric Dentistry cProsthodontics dUndergraduate Stage, Faculty of Dentistry, Syrian Private University, Damascus Countryside, Syria.
authors: Ahmad S
authors: AS
authors: Burhan
authors: Fehmieh R
authors: FR
authors: Nawaya
authors: Mohammad E
authors: ME
authors: Arabi Katbi
authors: Alaa S
authors: AS
authors: Al-Jawabra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult