Tooth ankylosis is a local etiologic factor of malocclusion that can have deleterious effects on normal dental development. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the problem as early as possible so that interception can be performed at the correct time.

Tooth ankylosis is an eruption anomaly defined as the union of the tooth root to the alveolar bone, with local elimination of the periodontal ligament. This condition can result in replacement root resorption, in which the root is substituted by bone.

Its cause is not well defined, but it can be associated with dental trauma, metabolic disturbance,a genetic tendency, or a local deficiency in vertical bone growth.

In general, cases that should be differentially diagnosed with tooth ankylosis include primary failure of eruption, presence or absence of replacement resorption, cortical bone engagement of root, and unexplained tooth movement impediment. Treatment for tooth ankylosis includes surgical luxation followed by immediate orthodontic force loading, surgical repositioning, transplantation, extraction, and observation. Treatment for tooth ankylosis, which can be easily diagnosed clinically before orthodontic treatment, is relatively simple, but tooth ankylosis can occur during orthodontic treatment or even during the maintenance period. In this regard, I would like to share my clinical experience on diagnosis and treatment for each treatment period for tooth ankylosis.