Dientes supernumerarios en la región del tercer molar inferior: etiología y manejo quirúrgico: presentación de dos casos / Supernumerary teeth in the lower third molar region: etiology and surgical management: report of two cases

RESUMEN

Los dientes supernumerarios en la región del tercer molar inferior sonpoco frecuentes. Cuando se presentan en posición distal se les denominadistomolares o distodens. Algunos autores los denominan cuarto molar; ésta denominación es la menos aceptada, ya que el cuarto molarno forma parte de la fórmula dental permanente, sino que es un dientesupernumerario. Cuando éste se presenta paralelo a los molares, en lacara externa o interna de la mandíbula, se denomina paramolar. El manejo quirúrgico suele ser complejo y requiere consideraciones especiales. Presentamos dos casos de dientes supernumerarios en la región del tercer molar distomolar y paramolar; describimos su diagnóstico, etiología y la técnica quirúrgica empleada.

ABSTRACT

Supernumerary teeth in the lower third-molar region are rare. When these are located in the region posterior to the third molar, they are known as ®distomolars¼ or ®distodens¼. Some authors refer to them as ®fourth molars¼, a term that is somewhat less accepted due to the fact that the fourth molar is not part of the permanent dentition, but rather a supernumerary tooth. When a distomolar occurs parallel to the molars, either on the outer or inner surface of the jaw, it is known as a ®paramolar¼. Surgical management is often complex and requires special considerations. We report two cases of supernumerary teeth in the third-molar region, one distomolar and one paramolar, and describe their diagnosis, etiology, and the surgical technique employed.