Fused Teeth
A developmental anomaly where two adjacent teeth are joined by dentin.
Fused teeth occur when two developing tooth buds join through dentin, creating one larger tooth with two separate pulp chambers. This differs from gemination (one tooth bud attempting to split into two, sharing one pulp chamber). Fusion occurs in approximately 0.5-2.5% of primary teeth, more commonly in the lower anterior region. Fused primary teeth may indicate a missing permanent successor — a panoramic X-ray should be taken to check. Problems include aesthetic concerns, increased caries risk in the fusion groove, and spacing issues when the tooth sheds. Treatment involves sealing the fusion groove to prevent decay, monitoring eruption of permanent successors, and orthodontic space management if needed. If the permanent successors are present, the fused tooth typically sheds normally.