Question: What happens when a tooth is pushed up into the gum?
Explanation: Intrusion is when a tooth is driven axially into its socket, crushing the periodontal ligament and fracturing the surrounding bone. The tooth appears shorter than its neighbours or may seem to have vanished entirely. It feels rigid rather than loose, and percussion produces a high metallic note. This is among the most severe luxation injuries because both the pulp and the ligament are badly damaged. Management depends on root development. Immature teeth with open apices are often left to re-erupt spontaneously. Mature teeth usually require surgical or orthodontic repositioning and almost always need root canal treatment.
Related Questions:
Will an intruded tooth come back down on its own?
Sometimes. Immature teeth with incompletely formed roots often re-erupt spontaneously within a few months. Fully formed teeth rarely do. If no movement is seen within two to three weeks, orthodontic extrusion or surgical repositioning is usually started.
Why does an intruded tooth almost always need a root canal?
The intrusive force severs the neurovascular bundle at the root apex. In mature teeth with narrow apical openings, revascularisation is essentially impossible. Root canal treatment is often started within two to three weeks to prevent inflammatory root resorption.
Is an intruded baby tooth an emergency?
It should be assessed urgently. The concern is displacement towards the developing permanent tooth bud. A radiograph determines the direction of intrusion. If the primary tooth has been driven towards the bud, extraction is generally advised.
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