Tooth twinning, also known as gemination, is the developmental anomaly where one tooth bud attempts to divide, resulting in the appearance of two teeth joined together. Essentially, it's an attempt to form two separate teeth from a single tooth bud.
This results in a single enlarged tooth or what appears to be two teeth partially separated, sharing a common root canal. It’s important to differentiate twinning from fusion, another dental anomaly. While both involve two teeth joined together, twinning originates from a single tooth bud, whereas fusion involves two separate tooth buds.
Here’s a breakdown of tooth twinning:
- Definition: An attempt by a single tooth bud to divide into two.
- Appearance: May look like a single wide tooth or two partially separated teeth.
- Root Canal: Usually shares a single root canal.
- Cause: Unknown, but possibly genetic or environmental factors play a role.
- Distinction from Fusion: Twinning starts from one tooth bud; fusion starts from two. In twinning, if you count the "twinned" tooth as one, the total tooth count in the mouth will usually be normal. In fusion, if you count the fused tooth as one, the total tooth count will usually be less than normal.
While often harmless, tooth twinning can sometimes cause cosmetic concerns or crowding, potentially requiring orthodontic treatment or extraction. A dentist can properly diagnose tooth twinning using radiographs (X-rays) and clinical examination.
