Most supernumerary teeth are found in the ante- rior maxillary region. The most common posi- tion of these supernumerary teeth is in the
midline.1 This midline supernumerary tooth has been
named a mesiodens because of its position in the center
of the maxilla.
Mesiodens are usually conical in shape and may be
paired. In children, 85% of anterior supernumeraries are
unerupted, and 65% interfere with the normal eruption
of the maxillary permanent incisors.2 The 15% that do
erupt can do so at any age, but eruption usually occurs
between the ages of 3 and 7. The mesiodens may emerge
in the palate or may resorb the roots of the primary central incisors and erupt in their place.
The usual treatment for these erupted mesiodens is extraction. This enables the permanent incisors to emerge in
the proper position and at the proper time. In this case
report, the mesiodens was not immediately extracted. This
was due to the age of the child and the favorable position
of the erupted supernumerary tooth.