Impacted Tooth Exposure
When a tooth is completely or partially stuck beneath the gums it is impacted. Wisdom teeth and canine teeth (the pointed teeth at the corners of the mouth) are the teeth that are most likely to become impacted. Wisdom teeth are often removed whether they are impacted or not, but canine teeth and other teeth are important for chewing and the alignment of the bite and are rarely removed. Instead, these teeth are treated so that they can properly erupt into the mouth. Orthodontic braces can be used to open space for proper eruption of the canines, or primary (baby) teeth can be extracted to make more room. Otherwise, the impacted tooth can be surgically exposed to allow for the placement of an orthodontic bracket to help guide the tooth as it erupts. During regular visits, your family dentist will track the development of teeth to ensure they are growing in correctly.
Exposure and Bonding for Impacted Canines
Canine teeth are the last primary (permanent) teeth to come in, emerging at about the age of 11 or 12. When these teeth become impacted, they should be treated as soon as possible. Without treatment, the roots of impacted canines can develop and fuse with the jaw bone. This makes it less likely that these important teeth will emerge properly. Your dentist can monitor the development of your child’s teeth with regular checkups, X-rays, and digital 3D scans. If an impacted canine is suspected, they will refer you to a trusted oral surgery practice such as Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa for treatment.
The treatment for impacted canines is to surgically expose them from under the gums and overlying bone so that they can move into their proper place. Your oral surgeon may work closely with your orthodontist to complete an exposure and bonding treatment. For this common procedure, your orthodontist will create a space for the impacted tooth to emerge by slowly shifting the surrounding teeth into new positions with braces. When the surrounding teeth are in their new positions, the oral surgeon will expose the tooth by removing gum tissue and/or bone that is blocking the tooth from emerging properly. An orthodontic bracket with a small chain is then bonded to the tooth. Your orthodontist will use the chain to guide the tooth as it moves into place. Exposing an impacted canine is a quick in-office procedure performed by your oral surgeon using either IV or local anesthesia. Some discomfort and slight residual bleeding are normal during recovery, but patients are back to their regular routines quickly.
Types of Anesthesia
Several methods of anesthesia are available at our practice:
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Impacted Tooth Exposure and other procedures.
"My name is Aaron from Anamosa, Iowa. I came to Dr. Morio for full-arch — six implants on the top and six on the bottom. For as major of a surgery as it is, it was really no sweat. I went to work the next day. The teeth I have now are actually better than my original set, even if they were in good condition. I can talk, I can chew, I eat anything I want. The staff here at Dr. Morio's was very professional. They get you everything you need; they make sure you're comfortable. Dr. Morio is one of the nicest surgeons I guess I've ever met. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Morio. It was a great experience."
"Hi, my name’s Ashley, and I’m from Cedar Rapids. I came to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa to get my teeth removed. Right as I walked into the door, it was a very comforting experience and everyone was just super friendly. The doctor here is just awesome. He is [a] very nice guy, he’s very friendly, and easy to work with. The staff answered all my questions and they put my mind at ease. It was a very successful procedure. The recovery was very easy. I am very glad I chose this place to get my tooth extracted. They did such an amazing job and I’ve gotten an amazing smile."
"Hi, my name is Austin and I am from Cedar Rapids. I came to Dental Implant and Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa for tooth extraction. When I first walked into the Dental Implant and Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa, I felt very comfortable. Everybody here had a smile on their face, and I felt welcomed the entire way. The doctor I worked with was a super nice guy, very easy to get along with. He made sure to get to know me as a person as well. He made me feel very calm the entire time, which was very nice. It was a successful procedure and my recovery was great, and I continue to feel awesome even right now as well, which is great. If you live in Hiawatha and need oral surgery, I absolutely recommend the team here."
"Hi, my name is Barb, I’m from Hiawatha, and I came to Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa for a full-arch replacement. Everybody here made me feel like I was part of a family. They welcomed me with open arms. The doctor here was amazing. I just felt so comfortable and at ease with the way he spoke with me, and I had a smile on my face the whole time we were talking. My procedure went very well, it was very successful, and the recovery was everything they told me it would be. I was a Smile Again recipient, and I have never won anything in my life and it was just the most amazing moment and it’s been an amazing experience. This was a life-changing experience thanks to the team at Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa."
"Hi, my name is Avery and I'm from Robins, and I came to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa to get my wisdom teeth removed. Coming into this practice, I was greeted with a smile. Everybody here was really sweet and caring, and they took all the extra steps to make me feel right at home. The doctor made me feel very comfortable and happy. He's such a good person. It was a successful procedure and the recovery went just as expected. I am thrilled that I chose this practice to get my wisdom teeth removed. If you live in Iowa City and need your wisdom teeth removed, I highly recommend the team here."
"Hi, my name is Ben and I’m from Cedar Rapids, and I came here to get some baby teeth extracted. There are so many things to do when you’re waiting in the waiting room. You can watch TV and there’s very comfy couches you can sit on. Everybody here is just great, the staff is friendly and the doctor is awesome. The doctor here is very nice and he makes me feel very welcome here. He really knows his stuff. The procedure was a success and I was up and running in no time. Now that I’ve had these extractions, I can eat all the pizza I want, and that’s okay with me. I'm going to have an amazing smile and it’s all thanks to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa."
"My name's Brenda. I'm from Marion, Iowa, and I had bone grafts, extractions, and implants. Well, the procedure and the surgery went absolutely fabulous, and I left here with absolutely no pain. The staff is professional. They are very welcoming when you come in. They just make you feel a part of the team. Dr. Morio is the best and made me feel so absolutely comfortable with having the procedure and giving me all the details I needed in order to have the procedures that he was going to perform. Out of 5 stars, I would give Dr. Morio 10. I've got a great smile and great teeth. It's perfection here."
"I'm Brooke, and I live in Lisbon, Iowa, and I got my wisdom teeth extracted by Dr. Morio. The surgery went super fast and well, and everything just went nice and smooth. The staff absolutely was amazing and did everything to make me feel at home and comfortable, and I felt safe as soon as I walked in the door. Dr. Morio is an amazing doctor. Everything was quick, easy, and painless, and I just felt super comfortable the entire time. I would give Dr. Morio five out of five stars. For my friends in Iowa City and Hiawatha, I highly recommend Dr. Morio."
"Hi, my name is Bruce and I’m from Anamosa. I came to the Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa to get extractions, bone graft, and implants. Everybody here was awesome. They made me feel at home, comfortable. I felt very well taken care of. The doctor is great, I mean he sat and talked with me. He made sure I was at ease and what’s going to happen. He showed me what was going to happen before it even took place, and with information like that, that made me feel really comfortable. Being able to smile again is truly an amazing experience. I coach a lot of sports, so a lot of people see, you know, me and the public align and I’ve got a lot of compliments from them. I’m happy that I chose this practice to get my procedure done."
Impacted Tooth Exposure in Hiawatha, IA
If you require the surgical treatment of an impacted tooth, we encourage you to call Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa for the highest quality treatment. We look forward to providing you and your family the best of care at our trusted practice in Hiawatha, IA.