Ectopic & Supernumerary Tooth

[Drsumitra]

The usual cause behind tooth dilaceration is trauma to the tooth while it is still forming. This causes a distortion in position of the forming tooth, resulting in the remaining part to form at an angle. The extent and point of dilaceration, whether it affects the crown or the root, is determined by the trauma induced. Example of such disturbances include blow to the face or falling over. Other more rare incidents include replantation of a knocked out or avulsed primary tooth, more commonly referred to as baby tooth. Another possible contributing factor includes orthodontics braces on a tooth with incomplete root formation. Other developmental problems or syndromes can also contribute to tooth dilacerations. A common disorder associated with dilacerated tooth is Turner’s hypoplasia. Occurrence of cyst or tumour which may cause an infection can also displace the developing tooth, causing dilacerated crown or root.

How to avoid tooth dilaceration

Head guard with attached mouth guard to minimise injury
Accidents are unpredictable hence making it hard to avoid tooth dilaceration. There are some general guides which can help minimize the occurrence especially if your child is playing contact sports. It is highly recommended that they wear a mouth guard not just to prevent tooth dilaceration, but any trauma to the oral region in general. In case of trauma, the child should be assessed by a dentist as soon as possible to evaluate the condition and if any steps can be done early on to prevent future complications. It is also important to note that if a baby tooth is knocked out that in no circumstances should the avulsed tooth be replanted back to its socket. This is because the replanted baby tooth may impinge or graze the developing tooth during replantation, causing unnecessary trauma to the permanent tooth leading to shape malformations. Another risk associated with avulsed tooth includes bacteria infestation on the surface of replanted baby tooth, leading to infection that can compromise the development of the permanent tooth underneath it.