A unique world record has been set in India. A 26-year-old woman, Kalpana Balan, has a total of 38 teeth in her mouth—six more than the average person. Due to this rare condition, her name has been recorded in the Guinness World Records. This raises an important question: if someone has extra teeth, should they be removed or left as they are?
Typically, an adult has 32 teeth. However, Kalpana Balan has 4 extra teeth in the lower jaw and 2 in the upper jaw. These extra teeth began appearing gradually during her teenage years. While she does not experience significant pain, food often gets stuck between her teeth while eating.
Why do extra teeth occur?
This condition is known as Hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth, where more teeth develop than usual. It is observed in about 3–4% of the global population.
Causes include:
Overdevelopment of tooth buds
Genetic factors
Splitting of tooth buds into two
Should extra teeth be removed or not?
The decision depends on several factors. Extra teeth may be retained if they:
Do not cause pain
Do not interfere with chewing
Do not disturb the alignment of other teeth
Do not increase the risk of infection or decay
However, regular dental check-ups are essential.
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When is removal necessary?
Dentists usually recommend removal if:
Food frequently gets stuck
Teeth alignment is affected
There is difficulty in chewing
Risk of infection or decay increases
In many cases, extra teeth can be removed easily through minor surgery.
Having extra teeth is rare, but not all cases require removal. If they do not cause problems, they can be monitored under medical supervision.
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