Three steps to take when your young one has a fused or germinated tooth
Tooth fusion and germination is one of the rarest abnormalities that occur during a child's dental development. With fusion, two tooth buds fuse to create a wider crown while with germination, one bud tries to sub-divide itself into two separate teeth. When an X-ray of the tooth is taken, it will have two separate pulp chamber and even different root canals. However, the fusion will be from the top of the tooth all the way down to the root apex. On the other hand, when a child has a germinated tooth, the tooth will have a single pulp canal but two different pulp chambers.
Discovering fusion and germination in time
When your child has a fused tooth or fused teeth, their tooth count will be less than normal for their age. However, there are instances when this fusion can be accompanied with supernumerary teeth, which will result in a normal tooth count. The only way to detect a germinated tooth is through a radio-graph, where the tooth will be seen to have two pup chambers and one pulp canal. Most of the time, fusion and germination affects the primary teeth.
Treating fused teeth
Having fused primary teeth does not mean the permanent teeth will behave in a similar manner. However, it could increase the possibility of the problem recurring since it is genetic. The only solution for these two anomalies is extracting the affected teeth. If the affected tooth is permanent, the removed tooth can be replaced with an implant.
When to keep a fused or germinated tooth
There are circumstances in which the orthodontist may recommend keeping a fused or germinated tooth. If the tooth does not have a wide crown, it could be kept. However, regular dental checkups will be recommended to protect the tooth from getting cavities. On the other hand, a germinated tooth could be resized so that it is reduced to an acceptable size. However, for this process to be completed, the patient may have to go through a complete root canal procedure.
As with all other orthodontic issues, early detection and will have a positive impact on the course of action taken and the time it will take to make it possible. If you suspect that your child could be suffering from such a problem, schedule a session with the dentist as soon as possible and get the proper diagnostic tests done for the child. For more information, contact companies like Care Dental.