Many people ask, “What harm could an ankylosed tooth possibly do?” Surprisingly, there are disadvantages that people with ankylosed teeth can suffer. Although no serious effects are recorded, an ankylosed tooth should still be examined and diagnosed by a dentist.
Dental ankylosis is a condition wherein the root of a tooth is directly attached to an individual’s jawbone. Normally, a human’s tooth is covered by ligaments and tissues which, in turn, help the tooth to stay intact in its socket. In some cases, these gingival and periodontal fibers do not materialize, disabling the boundary that separates a tooth’s root from the alveolar bone.
There are three primary drawbacks of having an ankylosed tooth. First is the inequality in tooth height or length, which negatively affects the aesthetics or appearance of a person’s dental structure. As a tooth is affixed to the alveolar bone, it cannot fully erupt from the gum line, resulting in a more submerged look compared to other neighboring teeth.
Another inconvenience of having an ankylosed tooth is the lack of support for the corresponding upper or maxillary tooth. As you might notice, every single tooth on the upper jaw has a matching tooth on the lower jaw. This harmonious relationship becomes flawed if a tooth is in an improper position, which is common in ankylosed teeth. In South Carolina, there are some cities that have skilled dentists who can repair this kind of problem. A North Charleston dentist, for instance, can perform an orthodontic procedure to put a tooth back in its place.
Correcting the position and alignment of teeth helps improve the efficiency of the patient’s dental configuration. A Summerville dentist is another good example of a South Carolina dental expert who can reverse this imperfection with simple and painless restoration approaches.
The last and the most significant downside of having an ankylosed tooth is that the affected tooth can block the growth of another permanent tooth. A Summerville cosmetic dentist explains that if a tooth is united with the jawbone, the erupting permanent tooth below it would find it hard to push the temporary tooth out of its socket, resulting in malocclusion.
