During adolescence, children’s temporary teeth fall out, and their permanent teeth emerge in their natural positions. On occasion, the permanent teeth do not erupt in proper alignment or sometimes do not fully grow in at all. A tooth that does not emerge at all or only partially erupts is called an impacted tooth. The most common impacted teeth are the wisdom teeth located at the back of the mouth, just behind the second molars. The canines, the pointed teeth in the front of the mouth, are also prone to impactions. While most wisdom teeth must be removed because they present problems with the rest of the mouth, such as dental crowding, impacted canines can be treated to restore their position in the mouth.
The canines play a very important role in the overall function and aesthetics of the mouth. Unlike other teeth, the canines have pointy crowns that assist in the biting, chewing, and tearing of tough foods, such as meats, and have the longest roots of any other teeth to maintain stability. They also play a vital role in aligning the rest of the teeth, particularly the front teeth, which everyone sees when you smile.
Canines are often the last teeth to develop and often face obstacles during their growth that other teeth do not encounter, which play a role in their impaction. Common obstacles include
- Extra teeth or absence of normal adult teeth
- Overcrowding of the teeth
- Resistance from the normal growth track of adjacent teeth
- Unusual growths blocking the tooth’s proper maturation
If not properly treated in a timely fashion, patients may need to undergo extensive dental and orthodontic procedures to expose the impacted tooth and fix the misalignment its absence has created. If you think you may have an impacted tooth, you should always schedule a consultation with a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon to determine the best treatment method for your problem. During your appointment, Dr. Balaci will check for symptoms indicative of an impacted tooth, such as redness, tenderness, puffiness, or swollen gum tissue, and take an X-ray of the problematic area. If the tooth is impacted, you will be presented with the most efficient method for treating the impaction that will provide optimal, long-term results.
Exposure and Bonding
One of the most common treatments for impacted teeth is exposure and bonding — a procedure in which your oral surgeon and your orthodontist work hand in hand to expose and realign the impacted tooth or teeth. Your orthodontist will begin the treatment by properly aligning the healthy teeth to create ample room for the impacted tooth to grow into the mouth. Next, Dr. Balaci will perform a short surgical procedure to lift the gum tissue and bone covering the impacted tooth and expose it. He will then connect an orthodontic bracket to the impacted tooth and attach a very small chain to the bracket that is used to pull the tooth into proper alignment over time.
The staff at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery are highly qualified to expose impacted teeth and work with orthodontists in your area to complete the procedure. If you think you may have an impacted tooth that needs to be removed or exposed, we encourage you to contact our office in Lebanon, PA, for an initial consultation and to learn more about your treatment options.
Where can I get impacted teeth exposed near Lebanon?
Dr. Alex Balaci and the highly skilled team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA, serve a wide region and provide the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures to correct functional and aesthetic problems, including the exposure of impacted teeth through wisdom tooth removal or expose and bond procedures.
