What term is used for additional teeth that exceed the normal count?

The term "supernumerary" refers specifically to additional teeth that exceed the typical dental count for a particular species or breed. In veterinary dentistry, this condition can occur when an animal develops extra teeth beyond the standard set, which can lead to various dental issues such as crowding, misalignment, or complications in chewing.

Understanding supernumerary teeth is crucial in small animal dentistry because it can affect the overall oral health of the animal. For instance, these extra teeth may not have a proper position in relation to the dental arches, making them prone to periodontal disease or damage to adjacent teeth.

In contrast, the other terms describe different dental conditions: "impacted" teeth refer to teeth that cannot properly emerge from the gums, "maloccluded" relates to teeth that are not in proper alignment, and "deciduous" pertains to the primary teeth that are eventually shed as permanent teeth grow in. These conditions, while important to know, do not relate directly to the occurrence of extra or supernumerary teeth.