A tooth is said to be impacted when it is unable to come into the mouth correctly. This often happens due to lack of space in the dental arch, but other factors can also cause impaction, such as position of the tooth, cysts or tumors, or if baby teeth are in the way.
It is common for wisdom teeth and canine teeth to be impacted, but impaction can happen to any tooth. In general, wisdom teeth are removed whether or not they are impacted; since canine teeth are very important to the bite, alignment, and function of the mouth, extra measures are taken. A common treatment called exposure and bonding can help an impacted canine tooth grow into the mouth properly.
An impacted tooth is a very common reason patients seek proper treatment from an oral surgery professional, such as Dr. Zarrinkelk and Dr. Siavash. If your child has impacted canine teeth, we encourage you to request a consultation at Greater Ventura Oral & Facial Surgery. Drs. Zarrinkelk and Siavash practice the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures, including expose and bond, at their state-of-the-art practices in Ventura and Ojai, CA.
Most of the time, the canine teeth will erupt into the mouth without any complications. However, it is not uncommon for canine teeth to become impacted. As the last primary teeth to grow into the mouth, canine teeth can become impacted due to baby teeth being in the way or crowding from the surrounding teeth. In some cases, an abnormal growth may block a tooth’s path.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see a dental professional at the age of 7. A dental professional can keep an eye on how your child’s teeth, mouth, and jaw structure develop and can refer to a specialist if any potential issues arise, such as an impacted tooth. Options for tooth replacement, such as dental implants, will be discussed if the impacted tooth cannot be treated.
Expose and bond treatment is generally approached as a joint effort between an oral surgeon and an orthodontist. First, an orthodontist will place braces on the teeth to create a space for the impacted tooth. Once this space has been prepared, the impacted tooth is exposed by the oral surgeon during a minor surgical procedure. A bracket is then bonded to the tooth and a chain is attached to it, which your orthodontist will use to guide the canine tooth to its new place in the dental arch.
We encourage you to request a consultation with Dr. Zarrikelk or Dr. Siavash for any of your oral surgery treatment needs. Greater Ventura Oral & Facial Surgery offers the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery treatments for patients of all ages, including expose and bond for impacted canine teeth.
