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.
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.