Dentist Greenwich CT discuss: an ankylosed tooth
An ankylosed tooth is the tooth that is directly fused with the jaw bone. Having this tooth results in the condition called “Dental Ankylosis”, an abnormal condition of a solid, fixated tooth root to the bone. This condition usually occurs in time of the emergence of the secondary teeth. It is commonly observed in children.
How Does an Ankylosed Tooth Form?
Normally, there is a gum tissue, which is called as “periodontal ligament”, around the roots of a tooth. This gum tissue is made up of fibers that hold the tooth so that it securely remains in the dental socket. Also, periodontal ligament is supposed to wrap the tooth root so that it doesn’t touch the bone.
Ankylosis happens when the root and the bone touch as a bridge of material called “cementum” starts to form along the gum tissue. This will create a link between the root and the bone.
Dental Issues That Come Along
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Tipping Of Erupting Teeth
Ankylosis causes the ankylosed tooth to stop erupting and to stay in the same place in the same position while the other neighboring teeth on each of its side grow. As these neighboring teeth erupt, they will eventually tip with the unmoving ankylosed tooth.
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Displacement of Permanent Tooth
If the ankylosed tooth happens to be a primary tooth, it will end up displacing the secondary and permanent tooth, keeping the new tooth from erupting.
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Impaction
Ankylosis can also reduce the space needed for the eruption of the permanent tooth. This eventually results to an impaction, a condition where a tooth fails to erupt.
What to Do About the Problem?
In most cases, a dentist or an orthodontist will try to let the permanent tooth erupt. However, if ankylosed tooth has still not exfoliated after a given period of time, it will need to be forcibly removed. This is where the removal of the ankylosed tooth is done.