Sometimes, when a tooth only partially erupts, it can be impacted. This means a partial eruption that could alter the appearance of your smile and even cause problems with orthodontic treatment. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons talk about how we can bracket an impacted tooth into proper position.
The Causes and Complications of an Impacted Tooth
Why does a tooth become impacted? This could occur when a baby tooth doesn’t fall out as it should, and this alters how the permanent teeth erupt. You could also have issues with the shape of your jaw and key oral structures, which limits how teeth erupt. If you have wisdom teeth erupt, there could be no room for them, which means one or more of them become impacted and trapped. When this happens, it can alter the alignment of your teeth, not only leading to misalignment and embarrassment, but also increases the risk of associated complications like tooth decay, gum disease, and even TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). But we can help!
The Bracketing Process
Our team will often work alongside your orthodontist so that treatment continues seamlessly once we complete the bracketing option. In many cases, we can simply shift the tooth into proper position. Our team starts by attaching a bracket to the partially erupted tooth and another to a nearby tooth. We then connect them with a chain. When our team adjusts tension in the chain, this begins to shift the tooth closer and closer to its proper position. Once this is complete, your orthodontist can move forward with orthodontic treatment.
Extracting a Tooth
Sometimes, we may not need to move the tooth into position. Instead, we will actually extract the tooth completely. This is often recommended if the tooth itself stands in the way of shifting the rest of your smile in an orthodontic procedure. Also, we could do this to address wisdom teeth. Preferably, we want to remove the wisdom teeth before they erupt, but we can also take them out afterward once they partially erupt. Our team will plan the procedure in detail with advanced digital imaging, and the process itself could take as little as a half hour in some cases. If you have any questions about how we bracket or extract impacted teeth, or if you have a concern that needs attention, reach out now so we can offer care before the holidays are here and the year ends!
Talk to Our Team About Tooth Bracketing in Santa Rosa, CA
We want to help you smile with confidence, and ensure you can undergo successful orthodontic treatment. To learn more about how we shift teeth into proper positions, then give us a call at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery at (707)545-4625 today!
