Tooth Displacement

What is Tooth Displacement

Tooth displacement (luxation) means that one of your teeth has been moved out of its normal position, but it has not fallen out or been knocked out of your mouth.

This can happen to a baby tooth (primary tooth) or an adult tooth (permanent tooth). Usually, it happens to the teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors). There are three types of tooth displacement:

• Extrusion. This is when the tooth is pulled up and out of its normal position. It may appear longer than it did in its normal position.
• Lateral displacement. This is when the tooth appears to be in front of or behind the normal row of teeth.
• Intrusion. This is when the tooth appears shorter than it did in its normal position, and it is pushed into the gum.

What are the causes?

Common causes of Tooth Displacement include trauma or injury to the mouth or jaw. A rare cause of this condition is disease, such as:

• A tumor.
• Bone infection.
• Gum (periodontal disease)

What increases the risk?

The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition:

• Participating in high-risk activities or contact sports, such as football, downhill skiing, or boxing.
• Having gum disease and bone infection that affects the jaw.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The main symptom of this condition is seeing the tooth moved out of its normal position. The tooth may also feel loose. Other symptoms include:

• Pain, especially when chewing.
• Bleeding in or around the tooth.
• Facial swelling.
• Tooth discoloration.
• Swollen or bruised gums.
• Increased tooth sensitivity to heat and cold.

A case report illustrates the relationship between trauma to a deciduous tooth and the consequences to the permanent dentition. The patient suffered an injury to the central incisors at the age of four with resultant pulpal necrosis. The permanent dentition was affected by displacement from its original position and a severe dilaceration at the crown/root junction.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a medical history and oral exam. You may also need dental X-rays to check for injuries to the root of the tooth.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on the type of tooth displacement you have. It also depends on whether the displaced tooth is a primary tooth or a permanent tooth. Treatment may include:

• Repositioning the tooth. This may be done with:
  • A surgical procedure.
  • Orthodontic appliances, such as braces.
  • A splint that keeps the tooth in place while it heals.
• Removing the tooth if it is too loose to splint.
• Removal of any chipped pieces of tooth.
• Medicine, including:
  • Pain medicine.
  • Antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.

General instructions

• Brush your teeth gently as directed by your health care provider.
• Check the injured area every day for signs of infection. Watch for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid, blood, or pus.
• Your health care provider may recommend that you eat certain foods. This may include eating only soft foods.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have pus coming from the site of the displaced tooth.
• You have swelling at the site of the displaced tooth.
• Your pain gets much worse, even after you take pain medicine.
• Your splint—if you have one—becomes loose.
• Your tooth becomes loose.

Get help right away if:

• You develop facial swelling.
• You have a fever.
• You have bleeding near the tooth that does not stop in 10 minutes.
• You have trouble swallowing.
• You have trouble opening your mouth.
• Your permanent tooth comes out after it is repositioned.

Summary

• Tooth displacement (luxation) means that one of your teeth has been moved out of its normal position, but it has not been knocked out of your mouth.
• Gum disease, bone infection, high-risk activities, and contact sports increase the risk for tooth displacement.
• Surgery, braces, or a splint may be used to reposition the tooth. You may also be given medicine for pain and antibiotic medicine to prevent infection.