Broken tooth Health Dictionary

See TEETH.... tooth

A popular name for the last molar tooth on either side of each jaw (see TEETH). These teeth are the last to appear and should develop in early adult life, but often they do not cut the gum till the age of 20 or 25; indeed, they may sometimes remain permanently impacted in the jaw-bone. This occurs in up to 25 per cent of individuals. The lower third molar is often impacted against the second because of the direction in which it erupts.... wisdom tooth

See TEETH, DISORDERS OF.... toothache

Malformed extra TEETH are frequently found, particularly in the upper incisor region. They often do not erupt, but prevent the eruption of the permanent teeth.... tooth, supernumerary

A tooth that has become completely dislodged from its socket following an injury. If the tooth is kept moist, and treatment is sought immediately, reimplantation may be possible (see reimplantation, dental).... avulsed tooth

See telangiectasia.... broken veins

See teeth.... canine tooth

An inherited muscle-wasting disease of the legs (see peroneal muscular atrophy).... charcot–marie–tooth disease

Crown badly decayed or weakened, it may be necessary to remove the entire natural crown of the tooth and then fit the artificial crown onto a post cemented in the root canal.... natural tooth

See femur, fracture of; fibula; tibia.... leg, broken

Fracture of the nasal bones or dislocation of the cartilage that forms the bridge of the nose. The fracture is usually accompanied by severe swelling of overlying soft tissue. A fractured nose is painful and remains tender for about 3 weeks after injury.

Resetting is usually carried out either before the swelling has started, or when it has subsided, usually about 10 days after the injury. Occasionally, a displaced bridge can be manipulated into position under a local anaesthetic, but, usually, a general anaesthetic is needed. A plaster splint is sometimes required during healing.... nose, broken

A tooth displaced in its socket as the result of an accident. The upper front teeth are the most vulnerable. A subluxated tooth can usually be manipulated back into position, and is then immobilized (see splinting, dental).

If the tooth’s blood vessels are torn, root-canal treatment is required.... subluxated tooth

See abscess, dental.... tooth abscess

(peroneal muscular atrophy) a group of inherited diseases of the peripheral nerves, also known as hereditary sensorimotor neuropathy, causing a gradually progressive weakness and wasting of the muscles of the legs and the lower part of the thighs. The hands and arms are eventually affected. The genetic defect responsible for the most common form, type Ia, is a duplication on chromosome 17. The diagnosis is made by nerve conduction tests followed by genetic blood tests. [J. M. Charcot; P. Marie (1853–1940), French physician; H. H. Tooth (1856–1925), British physician]... charcot–marie–tooth disease

see extraction.... tooth extraction

n. a paste used for cleaning the teeth. It contains a fine abrasive and a suitable flavouring to promote use. Most toothpastes contain *fluoride salts, which help to prevent *dental caries. Some contain antimicrobials, to counteract dental *plaque, and whitening agents.... toothpaste

(tooth surface loss) a condition in which loss of tooth substance is excessive for the patient’s age. It includes *attrition, *erosion, and *abrasion, but the cause is not always obvious. A combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors may be responsible.... tooth wear

see bleaching.... tooth whitening