Impacted Teeth

The failure of a tooth to erupt could be due to several factors that limit the space available in the dental arch. The most commonly impacted teeth are the wisdom teeth, but there are other teeth that can be impacted. These are commonly, in order of frequency, the maxillary canines, the upper and lower teeth just behind the canines, and the second molars. The management options for the impacted teeth are surgical exposure and orthodontic alignment of the tooth to the correct position in the arch, removal of the tooth, or no treatment. The treatment options are dependent on the tooth, it's location, age of the patient, and the presence of any other local factors that might affect the development and eruption of the tooth.

Examination

At the initial consultation Dr. Pederson performs an intraoral examination and reviews available x-rays to identify the location of the impacted tooth. The treatment options are discussed and further consultations with the orthodontist and general dentist are requested as indicated.

Uncovering of a tooth

Surgical uncovering of a tooth and orthodontic alignment of impacted teeth is a treatment performed in conjunction with the orthodontist. It can be considered the ideal treatment option in most cases, but it can be lengthy and its success depends on the ability to access and expose the tooth, the potential for orthodontic alignment, and the patient’s desire and cooperation with the treatment. The ideal time for exposure is before the root apex is closed. The surgical procedure is carried out in the surgeon’s office under local anesthesia with or without supplemental intravenous medication. The impacted tooth is uncovered surgically by removal of overlying tissue or bone and an orthodontic bracket with a gold chain is bonded to the tooth. This chain is what the orthodontist utilizes to reposition the tooth into its correct position in the mouth. At this point the orthodontist continues with the treatment until completed.