When a tooth is impacted, this can mean it only partially erupts, and stands in the way of an even smile, even hindering orthodontic treatment. But our team can use oral surgery to shift this tooth into proper position. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, oral and maxillofacial surgeons talk about our approach to bracketing impacted teeth.
The Causes and Risks of an Impaction
A tooth could be impacted for several reasons. For example, if you lose baby teeth prematurely, this can upset how permanent teeth erupt, which could mean a partial eruption. An impaction could be due to severe misalignment too. Wisdom teeth, the third molars that arrive in our late teens and 20s, may not have enough room to erupt and could become impacted themselves. This not only upsets your smile’s alignment, but could increase the risk of damaged teeth, tooth decay, and even gum disease, as this complicates how you brush and floss. If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, then this impaction could stand in the way. Our team can often help with the bracketing procedure!
Bracketing Teeth into Place
Our team may work alongside your orthodontics, so that treatment can continue seamlessly once we address the impacted tooth. With the bracketing process, our team will attach a bracket to the tooth in questions and one to a nearby tooth. We then connect them with a small chain. As we adjust the tension in the chain, this gradually and gently moves the tooth into an optimal position, until it is brought into alignment with the rest of your smile. You can then enjoy an even smile or continue with your orthodontic treatment.
Tooth Extraction
In some cases, such as wisdom tooth eruption, bringing the tooth into proper alignment isn’t possible, and to make room for orthodontic treatment, or to prevent complications, we may recommend extracting the tooth completely. Our team will numb the area and plan the procedure in detail based on images we have taken of your smile, including digital x-rays. We will next loosen and remove the tooth with a pair of forceps. The process could take as little as 30 minutes, and help protect your smile from worsening oral health and other complications.
If you have any questions about how our team will conduct a tooth extraction or bracket an impacted tooth into place, then contact our team today to learn more.
Learn More About Treating Impact Teeth Santa Rosa, CA
Our team wants to help you enjoy an even and healthy smile, and can work alongside your orthodontist to make this possible. To learn more about our approach to oral surgery and more, then give us a call at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery at (707)545-4625 today!
