Exposure of Impacted teeth
An impacted tooth essentially means that it is blocked, stuck, or unable to fully erupt and function properly. Third molars (wisdom teeth) are the most common impacted teeth, but the upper canine is the second most common impacted tooth. Wisdom teeth serve no important function in the mouth and are frequently removed; however, other impacted teeth, such as canines, are critical to the bite and require treatment for proper alignment and function.
What causes teeth to become impacted?
There are several main causes for impacted teeth:
Overcrowding – In some cases, poor alignment of teeth can lead to overcrowding. The existing teeth compete for space, which means that unerupted teeth may not have sufficient room to become functional.
Extra Teeth – If extra teeth are present, the natural eruption of teeth may be inhibited. The eruption process may be directly blocked by an extra tooth.
Early and thorough examination of the eruption of teeth can prevent problems with impacted teeth. It is important for the dentist to document the number teeth present when the patient is around 7 years of age in order to record the presence or absence of certain teeth. The older the patient becomes, the less likely it is that an impacted tooth will erupt naturally. If certain teeth are missing or are very slow in fully erupting, the dentist or orthodontist can make recommendations for proper treatment.
What does the treatment of impacted teeth involve?
The unerupted tooth will be exposed by lifting the gum tissue, and a special bracket may be bonded to the impacted tooth. The objective is to assist the eruption of the impacted tooth, and this can be skillfully done by Dr. Wolfrom. Afterwards, your orthodontist will guide the tooth into position.