Impacted Tooth Exposure for Orthodontics

When a tooth is impacted, this simply means that it’s stuck and not able to erupt and maximize function. The problem with impacted teeth is that they often become infected, and may cause significant bone loss, resorption of roots of adjacent teeth, as well as gum recession. If a patient requires orthodontic treatment, but exposure is necessary to make room for the brackets, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania can perform this procedure.

In a simple surgical procedure performed in our office, the gum on top of the impacted tooth will be lifted upward to expose the hidden tooth underneath. If a baby tooth is present, it will be removed as well. Once the tooth is exposed, one of our oral surgeons will bond an orthodontic bracket to the exposed tooth. The bracket will have a miniature gold chain attached to it which will allow the oral surgeon to guide the chain back to the orthodontic arch wire where it will be temporarily attached. Once the patient is stitched up, shortly after surgery they will return to the orthodontist.

If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery or impacted tooth exposure for orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Exposure of an Impacted Tooth

When a tooth is impacted, this simply means that it is stuck underneath the gum and cannot erupt into function. This typically occurs with wisdom teeth and when they are impacted, this can lead to infection. Since wisdom teeth really have no use in the mouth, our doctors at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania recommend extraction. Various surgical techniques can be performed to uncover impacted teeth, but we will explain our most common.

The techniques involved to aid in eruption can be applied to any impacted tooth in the upper or lower jaw. If the patient is passed a certain age, the chances of the tooth erupting naturally are slim to none. Once dental x-rays have been taken, the location of the impacted tooth and the amount of gum surrounding it will determine the appropriate technique your oral surgeon will use. In a simple surgical procedure performed in our office, the gum on top of the impacted tooth will be lifted to expose the hidden tooth underneath. You can expect a limited amount of bleeding once the surgery is complete and we will provide you with thorough post-op instructions.

To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.