Indian Sets Guinness World Records for Most Teeth

INDIA: 26-year-old Kalpana Balan from India has secured a position in the Guinness World Records for having the most teeth in a person’s mouth (female). With a remarkable total of 38 teeth, Kalpana surpasses the average adult count by six.

Kalpana’s dental anomaly includes four additional mandibular (lower jaw) teeth and two additional maxillary (upper jaw) teeth. Notably, the male record holder, Evano Mellone from Canada, boasts an even higher count with 41 teeth.

Unique and Challenging Journey

Kalpana’s journey with supernumerary teeth began during her teenage years. Although these extra teeth don’t cause her pain, they present challenges during meals as food tends to get stuck between them.

When Kalpana’s parents initially witnessed the emergence of her extra teeth, they were “shocked” and advised her to have them removed. However, her dentist recommended waiting until the teeth grew out more as they couldn’t be easily extracted. Despite the option to remove them, Kalpana chose to keep the extra teeth, a decision she stands by even after achieving the world record.

An Emotional Triumph

Expressing her joy, Kalpana shared, “I am so happy to get the Guinness World Records title. It’s my lifetime achievement.”

The record-setting journey might not be over for Kalpana, as she has two more teeth yet to emerge, potentially extending her record.

The presence of excess teeth, known as hyperdontia or polydontia, affects up to 3.8% of the world’s population. While the exact cause of hyperdontia remains unknown, it is believed to result from a malfunction in the tooth formation process. This condition is often associated with hereditary conditions such as Gardner syndrome, Fabry disease, cleidocranial dysostosis, and cleft lip.