Impacted Tooth Exposure
Guide Impacted Teeth to the Dental Arch
When a tooth is unable to grow into the mouth naturally (impacted), your surgeon works with your orthodontist to guide the tooth into its place with a procedure called expose and bond.
In some cases, a tooth can't come into position in the mouth due to a blockage of the growth path. This leaves the tooth partially or completely trapped beneath the gums, also known as impaction. Impaction can affect any tooth but is particularly common for wisdom teeth and canines.
Whether or not wisdom teeth are impacted, they are commonly recommended for removal; since canine teeth play a more important role in the function of the mouth, treatment rather than removal is usually recommended.
What Are Symptoms of an Impacted Tooth?
A canine tooth that is impacted may have some symptoms or none at all. Common symptoms of impaction include:
- Pain
- Red or swollen gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
Canine teeth are commonly impacted for different reasons, such as baby teeth that block the growth path of the adult tooth, unusual growths, misalignment, or even extra teeth in the mouth.
Exposure and Bonding Process
Your dentist can confirm an impacted tooth with an X-ray or CT scan. If your child’s canine tooth is impacted, an oral surgeon and orthodontist will work hand in hand to perform treatment. For most patients, early treatment to expose a canine tooth is recommended.
An orthodontist will perform the first step of treatment, which includes preparing the mouth with braces. Your orthodontist will use the braces to apply gentle and steady pressure to move the surrounding teeth into their new positions strategically and create a space for the impacted tooth. Dr. Nedbalski or Dr. Luter will perform a minor surgical procedure to expose the impacted tooth. An orthodontic bracket is bonded to the tooth, and the orthodontist will use the small chain attached to ensure the tooth grows into the right position in the mouth.
Your oral surgeon will discuss your options for anesthesia for the surgical procedure during your consultation. Many times, local anesthetic and IV sedation are used.
Types of Anesthesia
Boulder Oral Surgery performs a wide scope of oral surgery procedures and offers many types of anesthesia for the comfort and safety of our patients. The anesthesia used for your procedure will be selected by your oral surgeon. Your health history, personal preference, and unique treatment plan will all be considered when deciding which anesthesia is right for you.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Impacted Tooth Exposure and other procedures.
"Well, in my original consultation, Dr. Nedbalski walked me through the entire procedure. He explained everything he was going to do, so it really put my mind at ease. He’s a very caring, competent oral surgeon. My overall experience at Boulder Oral Surgery was really good. "
"My experience was wonderful. Dr. Nedbalski took the time to explain the procedure, and the procedure was very smooth. This procedure was life-changing! "
"The procedures for each one of my children was really fast. The team was really good—clearly extremely experienced and very reassuring about what the process would look like. "
"he staff was incredibly friendly and comforting. Dr. Luter was very professional. He was kind. He made me feel at ease. He explained everything that he was going to do. "
"The staff here was absolutely excellent. They went above and beyond to let me know the process. Dr. Chai is one of the funniest people I have ever met. He completely put me at ease and he talked me through the entire process. It went incredibly well."
"Dr. Nedbalski is a really nice guy—he has always a smile, he always explains things. I always like him because he has such a warm personality, and you know he’s going to do good work. The procedure I went through was just fine. Recovery was good."
"The office is really warm and inviting, and I had previously had experience there with one of my children, and the people are very friendly. I am really happy with my results. It went well and healed well. "
"Dr. Nedbalski explains them to me very easily, very quickly, and he was very gentle and very kind. Dr. Nedbalski's team is absolutely amazing, and each one knows what they're supposed to do, and they do it well. My experience here was life-changing. "
"Dr. Nedbalski is really an expert at what he does. He's very thorough, he's informative, he's up to date with the most current technologies and processes in the industry, and he's got a great bedside manner. I never felt like I was being treated as a number; I felt like a patient that was really cared for and that he knew me personally."
Building Better Smiles For Boulder
At Boulder Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, our goal is to bring you the best smile possible through exceptional oral surgery services tailored to meet your unique needs. From your first appointment to well after your procedure, we are here to support you on your journey to optimal oral health. We encourage you to reach out to our office to schedule a consultation and discover the life-changing power of oral surgery.