Teeth grow into the mouth by passing through the gums and emerging into their natural position. Sometimes, however, a tooth becomes stuck and either does not emerge or only partially emerges in the mouth. When this occurs, the tooth is said to be impacted. The most common impacted teeth are the wisdom teeth and the canines.
A tooth may become impacted for a variety of reasons, including
- Overcrowding of the teeth in the mouth
- The presence of extra teeth or the lack of normal adult teeth
- Unusual growths blocking the tooth’s proper eruption
- Inability of the tooth to follow the normal growth track of adjacent teeth
It is important to receive early diagnosis and treatment of any impacted teeth to avoid misalignment and the costly dental or orthodontic treatments that are needed as a result. To determine if a tooth is impacted, your doctor will perform a thorough oral exam. The presence of puffiness or swollen gum tissue, redness, tenderness, or drainage in the area of the tooth may indicate an impacted tooth. If an impacted tooth is suspected, an X-ray will confirm its presence.
Exposure and Bonding
One of the most commonly used treatments for impacted teeth is a procedure known as exposure and bonding. This treatment requires that the orthodontist and the oral and maxillofacial surgeon work hand in hand to properly align the rest of the teeth to allow the impacted tooth to grow in.
Where can I get impacted teeth exposed?
Utah Facial & Oral Surgery in South Jordan, UT, offers various oral surgical procedures and treatments, including the exposure of impacted teeth. We serve the Salt Lake and Utah Counties area.
Contact our office in the Salt Lake and Utah Counties area today to schedule your consultation for Impacted Tooth Exposure at (801) 446-4428.
