Did You Know!
A tooth can become directly fused to the jawbone.
Normally, a thin periodontal ligament separates a tooth’s root from the surrounding bone and helps support the tooth. With a condition called dental ankylosis, that normal separation is lost and part of the tooth root becomes fused directly to the jawbone. In growing children, the affected tooth can eventually appear lower than the surrounding teeth because neighboring teeth and jaw structures continue developing while the ankylosed tooth doesn’t move normally. The condition can sometimes complicate tooth alignment and orthodontic treatment.
