Kalpana Balan from India holds the world record for the most teeth in a person’s mouth (female), with a total of 38 teeth, which is six more than the average adult.
This includes four extra mandibular (lower jaw) teeth and two extra maxillary (upper jaw) teeth.
Her journey with these supernumerary teeth began during her teenage years, and while they don’t cause her pain, they do present challenges when eating, as food tends to get stuck between them.
Her decision to retain the extra teeth despite her parents’ initial shock and advice to have them removed came after her dentist suggested waiting until the teeth fully grew out.
Even after they did, Kalpana chose to keep them, fearing the removal procedure. Her decision has brought her joy and the title of Guinness World Records holder, which she considers a major achievement.
Looking to the future, Kalpana may extend her record, as she has two more teeth that have yet to emerge. The medical term for the presence of excess teeth is hyperdontia or polydontia, a condition that affects up to 3.8% of the global population.
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While the exact cause of hyperdontia is not fully known, it is believed to result from a malfunction in the tooth formation process.
It is also associated with various hereditary conditions, including Gardner syndrome, Fabry disease, cleidocranial dysostosis, and cleft lip.In addition to Kalpana, the male record holder for the most teeth is Evano Mellone from Canada, who has 41 teeth.
This unusual condition has drawn attention not only for its rarity but also for the insight it provides into the complexities of dental development and genetics.
