When a tooth is impacted, this means it only partially eruptions. This could impact the alignment of your smile and lead to serious complications. But we can help with oral surgery! In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral and maxillofacial surgeons talk about how we bracket your impacted teeth into place.
The Causes of an Impacted Tooth
When a tooth is impacted, this means it can only partially erupt, which in turn can upset the overall alignment of your smile and increase the risk of associated oral health concerns, from cavities and gum inflammation, to TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). The tooth could only partially erupt due to a primary tooth not falling out on time, or due to premature tooth loss or the tooth simply not erupting at all. Fortunately, our team can use a procedure known as bracketing to bring it into proper alignment with the rest of your smile, and protect your overall oral health.
The Bracketing Process
The procedure is often conducted as part of your orthodontic treatment, and our team will work alongside your orthodontist as needed. First, our team will take panoramic digital x-rays of your smile, so we can identify the position of the tooth and plan the treatment process in detail. We then attach a bracket to the impacted tooth and one to a nearby tooth. We connect them with a small chain, and then adjust tension in said chain during periodic visits, so we can gently adjust tension in the chain and begin shifting the tooth into the proper position. When we’re done, you will have an even smile!
Tooth Extraction
If a wisdom tooth partially erupts, then this is not corrected. Instead, we will remove the tooth in question. In fact, when possible, we want to take out wisdom teeth before they even erupt, to prevent negative changes to your smile’s alignment, and to avoid issues like infection or damaged teeth. Our team will carefully identify the position of the tooth with digital x-rays and imaging systems, and then numb the area before we extract the tooth. In some cases, this takes as little as 30 minutes. We then provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a complication-free healing process. Most people return to their normal routines after a day of rest.
If you have any questions about the process of bracketing an impacted tooth, or about tooth extraction, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Have Questions About Bracketing Your Teeth?
Our team can help correct your oral health concerns with oral surgery. If you would like to learn more about improving the alignment and balance of your smile, then contact your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons by calling 707-545-4625.
