Tooth Exposure for Impacted Teeth

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Tooth Exposure for Orthodontic Assistance

Tooth exposure refers to the treatment of an impacted tooth that has not erupted properly. While the most common occurrence of impaction is third molars (wisdom teeth), canine teeth are generally the most common when it comes to the tooth exposure procedure.

The issue to address here is that if the tooth that is impacted is not the wisdom tooth, but another tooth that plays an important role in teeth alignment, in your bite pattern, and most importantly, in your smile. Let’s take a look at what might cause this unique situation and the possible solutions to get that tooth extracted. There are options, and Dr. Pan will do what is best for you and that tooth.

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The Reasons behind an Impacted Tooth

Usually, this is going to be an issue with either a child or a teenager as the permanent teeth erupt, and the dentist can see what kind of situation has developed. Oftentimes, as crazy as it sounds, there is not always a logistical explanation for why the tooth in question is stuck and can’t erupt into its common function. Sometimes some people are actually born with extra, unneeded teeth, and it’s possible that one of these teeth blocks the path. Or the impacted tooth is out of its place, and another tooth is in the way. This issue needs to be addressed at a younger age to initiate proper treatment. The specific teeth that are of concern in this situation are either the cusped tooth or an eye tooth. Either of these teeth has an impact on the bite pattern and the smile as the youngster grows into both.

If the Tooth Exposure Process Does Not Work

Dr. Pan may initiate this process, and the impacted tooth still will not erupt. At this point, Dr. Pan and you need to fall back to Plan B. The tooth may be left where it is. Sometimes it even fuses to the jawbone. Or, if the 3D imagery suggests future difficulties, it may need to be surgically extracted. In seven to ten days, the gum tissue is healed, and any stitches can be removed. Now you are back to square one, a smile with a hole in it. A bridge can be made to fill that gap, or you can have a dental implant placed to fill the space. Either solution is also common practice.

Different Solutions to Aid with the Tooth Eruption

Dr. Pan is able to use the Cone Beam CT scanner in the office to get a 3D image of the impacted tooth. Once that image is in hand, a plan can be formulated.

The first scenario and a common solution is to place braces on the teeth in that arch, upper or lower, and move the teeth next to the impacted tooth to give it room to erupt. Once the tooth or teeth are moved and space is created, oftentimes the tooth will erupt on its own.

Through the monitoring of the process, if the tooth is not erupting, then the next scenario comes into play. The gum over the impacted tooth can be removed to expose the top surface of the tooth. A bracket can be cemented onto the impacted tooth, and a small chain can be attached to the arch wire already in place. The chain and the arch wire will provide additional force and pressure to help pull or guide the impacted tooth out. It’s almost like a channel is carved out for the tooth to slide through. The objective here through this tooth exposure is to save the tooth, avoid any extraction, and get that natural tooth into its natural place in the alignment of the teeth. It’s hard to say whether this process happens quickly or even takes up to a year. Each case is different.

A front tooth is easier to deal with through this process because it has only one root. If it is a molar, it will be more difficult because that tooth is both bigger and has two larger roots that need to be encouraged to erupt.

The Benefits to You of Having That Tooth Exposure

Dr. Pan and any other dentist you see will always do their best to keep any and all natural teeth in your mouth. This includes filling cavities, root canals, and, of course, any orthodontic measures to improve natural alignment. So if the tooth exposure is successful, you have a natural tooth where it belongs.

Dentists and orthodontists like Dr. Pan often see patients who simply take their smile for granted. They don’t understand the impact that a smile has on their everyday lives. That smile has been proven to affect your self-esteem and your self-confidence. Once patients have gone through the measures to have their teeth corrected via orthodontic procedures, the light bulb goes on. Their smile now changes their personal circles as well as their professional engagements in the business world. Going through the effort of tooth exposure, although challenging at the time, plays a big role as the youngster grows. It is worth the effort to work with Dr. Pan to find the solution to coax that impacted tooth to the surface and join the rest of the teeth in that smile.

Suffice it to say, once the impacted tooth has gone through a full tooth exposure, your young patient needs to be taught good oral hygiene practices to carry forth in his or her life. The health industry strongly suggests brushing twice a day for two minutes, slowly. Also, to floss at least once a day. This simple little effort on your behalf will remove daily bacteria-carrying plaque and go a long way in protecting those natural teeth and your gums. It is also recommended that you see a dentist twice a year for regular evaluations to always stay in a proactive position versus a reactive, come-from-behind situation. Love your smile, it belongs to only you!

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Pan Orthodontics Philosophy

To treat our patients as our families and to treat others as we want to be treated. From your first phone call to the moment your new smile is born, everything in our office is set up to ensure an excellent experience with us. We will always listen to you and improve with your suggestions.

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