08 May Process For Exposing Impacted Teeth
In some cases, patients’ teeth may become impacted and fail to erupt properly. This condition may have a host of consequences for the patient’s appearance and the functionality of those teeth in terms of chewing and speaking. While some impacted teeth – the wisdom teeth – can just be extracted with no harm coming to the patient, others, such as the canines and molars, may need to be exposed through oral surgery so that they can take their proper position in the smile. Additionally, exposing these impacted teeth prevents problems like cysts, infections and discomfort that can develop as a result.
Impacted teeth often occur in combination with a misalignment of the teeth, or even create that problem, so this issue is typically treated by an oral surgeon and an orthodontist working collaboratively. The orthodontist will create space for the teeth using braces or other orthodontic appliances, while the oral surgeon will perform the procedure that removes bone and gum tissue that is preventing the tooth from erupting.
In some cases, removal of excess tissue through oral surgery will be enough to allow the tooth to erupt into the space created by orthodontic treatment. In other situations, the tooth may need to have a bracket attached to it in order to guide it into the right spot in conjunction with the rest of the braces.
If a significant amount of gum tissue was removed in order to expose the impacted tooth, your oral surgeon will monitor your healing process to assess the health of the remaining gum tissue. A gum graft may be needed as a follow-up procedure if you appear to have insufficient gum tissue.
These surgical procedures are usually performed in an outpatient setting in our office’s state-of-the-art surgical suites. Patients often can return to their normal routines in a matter of days, and they receive thorough instruction in post-operative care to reduce their risk of complications.
Impacted canines and molars can have detrimental effects for your smile and should be addressed. Are impacted teeth negatively impacting your smile? Call our office to schedule a consultation to learn about your treatment options.