Exposure of Impacted Teeth
What is an impacted tooth?
An impacted tooth is one that is “stuck” and cannot erupt into its proper position. While wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted (see our Wisdom Teeth page), the upper canine, or eyetooth, is the second most common. Unlike wisdom teeth, canines play a critical role in your bite and are always worth saving if possible.
Canines are the last front teeth to erupt, typically around age 13. They have the longest roots of any teeth and serve as the cornerstone of the bite, guiding the upper and lower teeth into alignment. When a canine is impacted, our surgeons work with your orthodontist to expose and guide it into its correct position rather than extract it. 60% of impacted eyeteeth are located on the roof of the mouth (palate); the rest are found elevated above adjacent tooth roots or on the outer side of the dental arch.
Early Recognition of Impacted Eyeteeth Is the Key to Successful Treatment
The older the patient the more likely an impacted eyetooth will not erupt by natural forces alone, even if the space is available for the tooth to fit in the dental arch. A panoramic x-ray, along with a dental examination, will help determine whether all the adult teeth are present or if some adult teeth are missing.
Treatment may require referral to an oral surgeon for extraction of over-retained baby teeth and/or selected adult teeth that are blocking the eruption of the all-important eyeteeth. The oral surgeon will also need to remove any extra teeth (supernumerary teeth) or growths that are blocking the eruption of any adult teeth.
Impacted Tooth Success by Patient’s Age
What happens if the eyetooth will not erupt when proper space is available?
In cases where the eyeteeth will not erupt spontaneously, the orthodontist and oral surgeon will work together to get these teeth to erupt. Each case must be evaluated on an individual basis, but treatment will usually involve a combined effort between the orthodontist and the oral surgeon. The oral surgeon will expose and bracket the impacted eyetooth.
The goal is to erupt the impacted tooth and not to extract it. Once the tooth has moved into its final position, the gum around it will be evaluated. In some circumstances, there may be some minor “gum surgery” required.
Exposure and Bracketing of an Impacted Cuspid
What to expect from surgery to expose & bracket an impacted tooth
The surgery to expose and bracket an impacted tooth is a very straightforward surgical procedure that is performed in the oral surgeon’s office. For most patients, it is performed using laughing gas and local anesthesia. In selected cases it will be performed under IV sedation if the patient desires to be asleep, but this is generally not necessary for this procedure. If the procedure only requires exposing the tooth with no bracketing, the time required will be shortened by about one half. These issues will be discussed in detail at your preoperative consultation with your doctor.
Refer to Preoperative Instructions under Surgical Instructions on this website for a review of any details. Simply call Apex Oral Maxillofacial Surgery & Implantology at Nashua Office Phone Number 603-883-4008 if you have any questions.
Do You Have A Painful Impacted Tooth?
Our caring staff is here to help you if you have any questions!