Supernumerary molar teeth: observations in the skulls.

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of supernumerary molar teeth in the skull collection of the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences.

DESIGN

Cross sectional anatomical observations on human skulls.

SETTING

Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, Harare, and the Department of Anatomy, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare.

SUBJECTS: 153 skulls with intact maxillae and 112 mandibles from the skeletal collections of the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences representing the Black Zimbabwean population.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Observations on the presence and location of supernumerary molars in the upper and the lower jaws of the human skulls as well as the diameters of supernumerary molars.

RESULTS

Two fourth molars were observed in two upper jaws and their prevalence was 0.76%. One fully erupted fourth molar was observed on the left side of the upper jaw distal to the third molar in the alveolar arch of the female skull aged 40 years. Another impacted fourth molar was observed on the right side of the upper jaw of the female aged less than 25 years and was present on maxillary tuberosity. No fourth molars were observed in lower jaw collections.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that the supernumerary molars occur rarely. It would be appropriate to evaluate the prevalence of supernumerary teeth in Zimbabwean population based on clinical and radiological examination rather than observations in the skulls.