What Is Tooth Ankylosis In Children?
Children's teeth grow, do their duty for a number of years, and then are pushed out of place by the development of your child's adult teeth. Sometimes this basic process doesn't happen in its entirety, and your child may retain one or more baby teeth long past the time when these should have been lost. What does it mean when your family dentist tells you that your child is experiencing tooth ankylosis?
Bone Fusion
Tooth ankylosis is when, instead of having the necessary degree of separation that permits the detachment of the tooth, the root of the tooth has become fused to the alveolar bone which anchors it. This fusion prevents the development of the adult tooth. The exact cause of the condition is not conclusively known, but it's generally considered to be due to earlier dental trauma. Perhaps your child received a hard blow to the mouth, and in an effort to repair itself, the tooth has fused to the bone that supports it.
Specialist Assistance
Clearly, the over-retention of a primary tooth is a problem. Luckily, in the case of tooth ankylosis, the problem has a solution. Your child might be referred to pediatric dental specialists so that a customized treatment plan can be developed. What is this likely to involve? The details of your child's treatment will generally depend on their age and the location of the affected tooth.
Extraction
For older children, a straightforward extraction of the over-retained tooth can be the preferred course of action. This will not lead to the rapid emergence of their permanent, secondary tooth, which won't always have developed due to the fusion of the tooth root to the alveolar bone. Extraction leaves your child with a gap in their smile, which will require a prosthetic replacement. Permanent dental implants can only be installed when a child's jaw has stopped growing (usually by your child's late teens, although this varies). A temporary prosthetic tooth will be provided in the meantime.
Decoronation
For younger children, extraction isn't always preferred. In terms of ultimately providing a dental implant, it's unwise to have an empty dental socket for an extended period of time, as this can compromise the future success of a dental implant. An empty dental socket can lead to bone resorption when the bone loses density as it no longer has to support a tooth. For younger patients, decoronation may be recommended. This is a partial extraction, when the tooth's structure (its crown) is removed, leaving the root system (and underlying bone) intact. A prosthetic replacement will still be required, and the tooth's root structure can be removed when your child is old enough for a permanent dental implant.
Tooth ankylosis is fairly rare, and in terms of dental developmental issues, it's not especially serious. That being said, your child will still require specialist treatment. Make an appointment with a pediatric dental office, such as Dentistry For Children & Adolescents, to find a solution.
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