A N KY LOS I S
CHILDREN ERMANENT TEETH THE ANKYLOSIS PATIENT
TREATMENT OPTIONS
• The tooth most likely ankylosed at
AND CONCERNS FOR THE
age 11 to 12
ANKYLOSED TOOTH
• The patient is now 15
The treatment options are:
• The patient is female
• Extract the tooth and prepare
Prior to figuring out what we should do,
for implant placement
there are still a few questions that we
• Subluxate the tooth and
need to address:
orthodontically reposition
• How fast is the resorption occurring?
• Use a segmental osteotomy to
As can be seen from the radiographs
orthodontically reposition to the
that the patient brought, the rate of resorption seems to be progressing
desired area
very slowly. (Figure 2)
• Leave the tooth in its current
• Where is the smile line? The patient
position and restore the esthetics
has a very low smile line and does
If the tooth is extracted, she will need
not show the FGM. (Figure 3)
hard tissue augmentation, will have to
• Where is she in relationship to her
wait until she is 17-years-old to have an implant placed, and we will need to
growth? Females generally are done
provide an interim tooth replacement
growing at the age of 17. Given that
option throughout this time period.
she is 15 years of age now, it is
The downside of this option, as far as
anticipated that she is near the end
the ankylosis patient and her family
of her growth phase.
are concerned, is that this is a very formidable time in her life. Managing appointments, schedules and interim tooth replacement would be difficult.
Figure 2 Figure 3
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