Expose and Bond

Treat With Exposure & Bonding

Your canine teeth play a pivotal role in maintaining a balanced bite and ensuring proper alignment of your teeth. They are the initial point of contact when you bite down, guiding the positioning of surrounding teeth into their correct places. However, canine teeth can occasionally become impacted, failing to erupt properly and integrate into the dental arch. If ignored, impacted canines can lead to difficulties in chewing, tooth decay, gum disease, and misalignment of adjacent teeth.

Exposure and bonding represent a standard approach for managing impacted canine teeth. Leveraging their extensive expertise, Dr. Gilbert and the team at Inland Institute Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery excel in treating impacted canines. We invite you to reach out to our office in Upland, CA, to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gilbert.

What Is an Impacted Tooth?

An impacted tooth is one that remains trapped below the gum line and fails to emerge or erupt properly. This condition commonly affects canine teeth, positioned near the front of the mouth, which can become impacted and lose their normal function. Canines rank as the second most frequently impacted teeth, following wisdom teeth.

Several factors contribute to tooth impaction, including obstructions within the dental arch, overcrowding of teeth, or insufficient space for natural eruption. When untreated, impacted teeth can result in various issues such as challenges with eating, tooth decay, gum disease, and potential misalignment of adjacent teeth.

Causes of Impacted Canine Teeth

An impacted canine tooth occurs when the adult tooth fails to erupt correctly and becomes lodged in the jawbone. Several factors contribute to this condition:

• A primary tooth or abnormal growth obstructs its path: Sometimes, a baby tooth may not naturally fall out, or there could be an abnormal growth impeding the permanent canine's eruption.
• Dental overcrowding: Insufficient space in the dental arch can cause the canine teeth to become impacted as they attempt to align properly.
• Inadequate room in the dental arch: The size and shape of the dental arch may not provide enough space for the natural eruption of the canine teeth in certain cases.

Early treatment of an impacted canine tooth enhances the likelihood of successful eruption and function. When an impacted tooth remains untreated, it becomes increasingly fused with the jawbone. Once fused, exposure and bonding procedures are no longer viable options. Extraction of the impacted tooth becomes necessary, followed by replacement with a dental implant.

Exposure and Bonding Process

Exposure and bonding require a surgical approach to uncover the impacted tooth. Initially, an incision is made in the gums to access the tooth, and a bracket with a chain is affixed to it. This bracket is then linked to braces to properly align the tooth. Over several months, an orthodontist uses this chain to guide the tooth into its correct position within the dental arch.

Collaboration between oral surgeons and orthodontists is essential in treating impacted canine teeth. It's crucial to visit your orthodontist within two weeks of exposure and bracketing to initiate the alignment process. This coordinated effort between specialists plays a pivotal role in achieving the successful eruption, function, and aesthetic alignment of impacted canines.