When a Baby Tooth Remains Fixed to the Jawbone (Ankylosis of Primary Tooth) Ankylosis refers to a dental condition wherein a tooth becomes stuck in the bone and fails to emerge. If left untreated, an ankylosed tooth can lead to orthodontic problems like crowding or distorted jaw growth. The good news is that an ankylosed tooth is very treatable. Our approach depends on the amount of damage the tooth has caused, so the sooner you come see us, the sooner we can ensure that your child’s teeth come in healthy and straight!

The  Tooth  Station  •  1621  Creekside  Drive,  Ste  101  Folsom,  CA  •  916-­‐984-­‐6747   1954  Del  Paso  Road,  Ste  101  Sacramento,  CA  •  916-­‐419-­‐0020   www.thetoothstation.com  

 

This X-ray shows a baby tooth that has become stuck in the bone. You can see that the middle tooth is not as high up as the two teeth on either side of it. If left untreated, the other teeth in the mouth will continue to move upward, but the ankylosed tooth may remain partially buried in the gums. This can lead to abnormal bone formation in the jaw.  

In addition, the adult or permanent tooth underneath the baby tooth will orient to one side or the other rather than emerging straight up, as seen here. Frequently, children will have more than one ankylosed baby tooth at a time, usually the tooth in the same position on the opposite side of the mouth.  

This photo is of the same tooth seen in the first X-ray and clearly shows the tooth below the level of the other teeth. Notice how close the gums are to the top surface of the tooth when compared to the tooth behind it.  

The  Tooth  Station  •  1621  Creekside  Drive,  Ste  101  Folsom,  CA  •  916-­‐984-­‐6747   1954  Del  Paso  Road,  Ste  101  Sacramento,  CA  •  916-­‐419-­‐0020   www.thetoothstation.com  

 

This photo shows the removal of an ankylosed tooth. The reason removal is necessary is to allow for normal bone growth of the jaw and upright eruption of the permanent tooth.  

This photo was taken immediately after the removal of the ankylosed tooth. Proper treatment of an ankylosed tooth requires further treatment than the removal of the problem tooth. If nothing else is done after the removal of the tooth, the tooth behind the one removed will move forward and eventually take its place. This creates orthodontic problems, such as crowding.  

Remember, there is still a permanent tooth in the bone below the baby tooth that was removed. If the tooth behind the one that was removed moves forward, there will not be room for the permanent tooth to come in.  

The  Tooth  Station  •  1621  Creekside  Drive,  Ste  101  Folsom,  CA  •  916-­‐984-­‐6747   1954  Del  Paso  Road,  Ste  101  Sacramento,  CA  •  916-­‐419-­‐0020   www.thetoothstation.com  

 

To prevent the tooth behind the tooth removed from moving forward, a space maintainer is placed in the mouth and glued to the back teeth.  

This photo shows how the space maintainer works to prevent the back teeth from moving forward. There is a small wire attached to the bands around the back teeth that rests against the inside of the lower teeth. This wire prevents the back teeth from moving forward.  

A space maintainer must be custom made for each patient. This is done by taking an impression or mold of the teeth.  

The impression material is mixed in a bowl with water and then placed into a tray.  

The  Tooth  Station  •  1621  Creekside  Drive,  Ste  101  Folsom,  CA  •  916-­‐984-­‐6747   1954  Del  Paso  Road,  Ste  101  Sacramento,  CA  •  916-­‐419-­‐0020   www.thetoothstation.com  

 

The tray with the impression material inside is placed into the mouth of the patient. The impression material hardens in about 1-2 minutes. This is then used to custom make each space maintainer for the patient.  

The space maintainer is placed into the mouth. The bands wrap around the back teeth and are glued around those teeth to stay in place.  

One can see the space maintainer in the mouth and how it keeps both back molars from moving forward.  

The procedure is carried out using local anesthesia (numbing medicine) with Nitrous Oxide, which is sometimes called laughing gas. The patient is very comfortable and is also very happy because the procedure may have prevented the need for orthodontic treatment or braces later.   The  Tooth  Station  •  1621  Creekside  Drive,  Ste  101  Folsom,  CA  •  916-­‐984-­‐6747   1954  Del  Paso  Road,  Ste  101  Sacramento,  CA  •  916-­‐419-­‐0020   www.thetoothstation.com