Impacted Teeth Removal

Understanding Impacted Teeth

If teeth do not emerge out of the gums like they are supposed to, they can cause problems such as crowding, infections or diseased tissue. However, this can be fixed with a simple tooth extraction. Your dentist, or in some cases, your orthodontist, will monitor your mouth and recommend if any misaligned or crowded teeth should be removed to preserve the full integrity of your mouth.

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

When removal is the best option for protecting your oral health.

You may need to have a tooth extracted for a number of reasons, such as decay, injury or as part of orthodontic treatment. Whatever the reason, you will most likely be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) who will remove your tooth in the office using an anesthetic that is appropriate for your procedure.

EXPOSING IMPACTED TEETH (EXPOSE AND BOND) AS PART OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

An option for saving impacted teeth instead of removing them.

It is not uncommon for teeth other than wisdom teeth to be impacted (or blocked) from entering the mouth. Fortunately, many of these teeth can be brought into proper position rather than removed.

By working together, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon and orthodontist can often bring the impacted tooth through the gum and into the correct position through a procedure known as expose and bond. The OMS will expose the impacted tooth and bond an orthodontic bracket and chain to the tooth. This bracket will then be connected to the patient’s braces. The patient’s orthodontist will then work to gradually bring the tooth into the proper position – resulting in a beautiful, healthy smile.

FRENECTOMY

A minor procedure to improve range of motion in the mouth.

Frena are small folds of tissue located in the mouth: under the tongue, inside the upper lip, inside the lower lip and connecting the cheeks to the gums.

A frenectomy is a simple procedure performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to loosen the frenum’s connection and extend the range of motion.

BONE GRAFTS

Bone grafting is a minor surgical procedure that helps restore the structure and function of tooth-supporting tissues. Bone loss is a common side effect of untreated periodontal disease(advanced gum disease). 

TEMPORARY ANCHORAGE DEVICES (TADS)

Temporary support devices used during orthodontic treatment.

Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) are occasionally used for a short time during orthodontic treatment. TADs are small titanium screws that orthodontists use to help reposition teeth.

TADs are usually placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in their office. When the TADs are no longer needed, they are removed and the site is usually fully healed in a couple days.