Intruded Teeth

In our last post, we mentioned that there are certain injuries which may require attention from both orthodontists and endodontists. Tooth intrusion is one such injury. It describes what happens when a tooth is pushed back into its socket, usually as a result of a violent blow. For such cases, Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park is ready to help.

Intruded teeth will have to undergo a lot of imaging tests to determine the extent of the damage. Since they often re-erupt, it may not be necessary for them to undergo extensive treatment, particularly if they are baby teeth and the permanent teeth meant to take their place are undamaged. But in permanent teeth, a root canal is often necessary to remove damaged pulp, and orthodontics may be necessary to move the tooth back into their proper place as an alternative to orthognathic surgery. In children, a palatal spacer may also be necessary to ensure there is enough room for the tooth to erupt a second time if it was twisted or knocked out of alignment. The orthodontic treatment for guiding an intruded tooth back into place will require the use of elastic bands and specially shaped wires.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.

 

Orthodontics and Root Canals

Patients at Dr. Cynthia Wong’s orthodontic office in Orland Park receive specialized treatment for a number of dental problems. Some of those problems may also require the assistance of dentists with other specialties, such as endodontists, who perform root canals.

When dental pulp becomes infected, a tooth may either undergo a root canal or be extracted and replaced. From an orthodontic perspective, it is better for the tooth to undergo a root canal. In fact, there are some types of injuries for which both endodontic and orthodontic treatment are necessary. When a tooth gets a root canal, the pulp on the inside is removed and the pulp chamber is filled in, but the outside of the tooth and surrounding ligament tissue is unaffected. Because of this, the tooth can be moved with normal orthodontic treatments. This situation differs from a tooth that is replaced with an implant, which should never be mobile. In order to perform a root canal, it may be necessary to remove the orthodontic wire and the bracket from the tooth, but these can be replaced afterward. Even if the crown of the tooth had to be replaced, this does not necessarily mean it cannot be migrated with orthodontics, since the sealant used to fix orthodontic brackets to natural teeth also works on prosthetic crowns.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.