Tooth gemination | |
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Specialty | Dentistry |
Tooth gemination is a dental phenomenon that appears to be two teeth developed from one. There is one main crown with a cleft in it that, within the incisal third of the crown, looks like two teeth, though it is not two teeth. The number of the teeth in the arch will be normal.
The cause of gemination is still unknown. [3] However, there are a few possible factors contributing to gemination:
The phenomenon of gemination arises when two teeth develop from one tooth bud, resulting in an extra tooth for the patient. In contrast, fusion occurs when two normally separated tooth germs unite, making it appear as if the patient is missing a tooth. Fused teeth can form through the union of two normally separated tooth germs, which can be either complete or incomplete, depending on the stage of development at the time of union. Occasionally, two independent pulp chambers and root canals can be observed. However, fusion can also occur between a normal tooth bud and a supernumerary tooth germ. In these cases, the number of teeth remains normal, making differentiation from gemination very difficult, if not impossible. In geminated teeth, division is usually incomplete, resulting in a large tooth crown with a single root and a single canal. It is an asymptomatic condition
The prevalence of gemination or fusion is 2.5% in primary dentition, [1] and 0.1–0.2% in permanent dentition. [4] It is more frequently observed in primary than permanent dentition; anterior than posterior teeth; [5] unilaterally than bilaterally. [1] It commonly occurs in the primary upper incisors.
Before root canal treatment or extraction are carried out, the clinician should have thorough knowledge about the root canal morphology to avoid complications.