Impacted Canine Exposure

When a canine tooth cannot emerge into the dental arch, an expose and bond procedure is used to help this important tooth emerge successfully.

Impacted Canine Exposure in Birmingham, Alabama

At around age 11 or 12, the canine teeth grow in. After wisdom teeth, these special teeth are the most likely teeth to become impacted (stuck beneath the gums and not able to grow into the mouth properly). Since they are essential for the bite, when the canines become impacted, they must be treated in a way that allows them to grow in and take their proper place in the dental arch. The standard treatment for canine impaction is a two-phase procedure called exposure and bonding, during which an oral surgeon works hand in hand with an orthodontist to move the canine tooth into its proper position.

Our oral surgeons are expertly trained to treat impacted canine teeth with exposure and bonding procedures successfully. If your child requires treatment for impacted canines, we encourage you to request a consultation at our practice during which a personalized treatment plan will be created that will offer your child the most comfortable experience possible in a calm and friendly oral surgery environment.

What causes canine impaction?

Most canine teeth will grow into the dental arch without issue, but these crucial teeth can sometimes become impacted due to

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be seen by a dental professional by age 7 for an examination and imaging to track the eruption of the permanent teeth and to be sure that the canines are developing properly. If an impacted canine tooth is detected, you will be referred for treatment by an experienced oral surgeon. Early treatment is important because if a canine tooth remains impacted into adulthood, treatment is less likely to be successful. When an impacted canine cannot be treated, dental implants or other tooth replacement options can be used to replace the canines with very excellent aesthetic and functional results.

How does the exposure and bonding treatment work?

Exposure and bonding for impacted canine teeth is a common and effective two-phase treatment that we perform regularly at our friendly and state-of-the-art Birmingham practice. For this treatment, we work closely with your orthodontist. For the first phase of treatment, your orthodontist will place braces on your teeth to make a space in the dental arch for the impacted tooth. Once this space is ready, your orthodontist will send you to our office so that we can surgically expose the tooth by making an incision in the gum and/or bone that is blocking it. After this step, a small orthodontic appliance called a bracket will be placed on the tooth, and a chain will be attached to the tooth using this bracket. During the final phase, the orthodontist will use the bracket and chain to gently guide the impacted canine tooth into its proper location in the dental arch over time.

If you have any questions about the procedures and services that we offer at Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery, or if you are ready to request a consultation appointment with Dr. Roden or Dr. Alling, please feel free to contact us today.