Exposure of

Exposure of Impacted Teeth

Preventative Steps

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What are
Impacted Teeth?

WHAT ARE
IMPACTED TEETH?

Impacted teeth are teeth that are stuck and cannot erupt to function as they should. Wisdom teeth and canine teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth. To align these teeth properly, Dr. Song will perform a short surgery to expose the tooth and attach a bracket and chain to pull it down over time.

REasons For
impacted Teeth

Reasons for Impacted Teeth

Overcrowding
Baby teeth are still present
The path for the tooth is obstructed
Misalignment of surrounding teeth
Extra teeth
Genetics

Benefits of
exposing
Impacted Teeth

Benefits of Exposing
Impacted Teeth

Improve overall oral health
Relieve pain
Prevent damage to the roots of surrounding teeth
Prevent cysts from forming and leading to other health issues
Ensure other teeth remain in the proper position
Prepare for orthodontic treatment

Early Detection

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends x-rays and a dental screening be performed around the age of 7 to count teeth and assess if there will be any issues with adult teeth erupting. The earlier an impacted tooth is caught, the easier treatment and recovery will be. Impacted teeth can be symptomless, but some show symptoms like:

Redness, pain, and swelling at the site
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
Bad breath
Sour taste in the mouth
Difficulty opening and closing your mouth

What Should
I expect?

Sedation

This procedure is a minor surgery usually taking no more than an hour. Dr. Song performs the surgery in office typically with local or IV anesthetic to minimize any pain.

Procedure

Lifting the gum on top, the impacted tooth is exposed. If there is a baby tooth present, it will be removed. Once the tooth is exposed, Dr. Song will attach an orthodontic bracket with a chain. The chain will be attached to the orthodontic wire to encourage eruption over time.

Recovery

After surgery there should be minimal bleeding or discomfort at the surgical site. Tylenol or Advil should take care of any pain that occurs. A little swelling may occur in the lip from holding it up away from the surgical site. Ice packs applied to the lips should cure any swelling in no time. A diet of softer foods is recommended until you feel comfortable to chew normally.