A Horizontal Mesiodens in a Child Buried at Hank’s Site (41RB109), a Prehistoric Plains Village Site in the Texas Panhandle

Abstract

The mesiodens is the most common kindof supernumerary tooth; it is found in the midline ofthe maxilla. Horizontal orientation is the least common,accounting for about 6% of cases. During osteologicalanalysis of the skeleton of a 3 to 5 year old child recoveredfrom Hank’s site (41RB109) in the northern Texaspanhandle, an impacted horizontal, conical mesiodenswas identified. The skeleton dates to the Plains Villageperiod, ca. A.D. 1,200 to 1,500, when village-basedpeoples practiced a mixed hunter-gatherer/horticulturesubsistence. This mesiodens is located in the right maxilla,just lateral to the midline of the hard palate and parallel tothe intermaxillary suture. The root projects ventrally andprotrudes through the external alveolar bone between thecentral incisors. The crown is conical. Although sometimesfound in association with certain congenital disorders, themesiodens appears to be idiopathic in this case. Whilepossibly painful due to its proximity to the nasopalatinenerve, no sequela from the tooth growth and impactionare evident.