Impacted Canines

Sometimes a tooth gets stuck or blocked and does not come into proper natural position. When a tooth only partially grows into the mouth or does not emerge at all, it is said to be impacted. The teeth that are more susceptible to becoming impacted are the wisdom teeth (third molars) and the canines (cuspids or eye teeth).

The teeth with the longest roots of any human teeth are the canines — the pointy teeth in the front of the mouth. They play a critical role in the proper alignment of the rest of the teeth, as well as in the correct bite of the jaw, and they are very important in our ability to bite into foods like tough meats. Canines are usually the last of the front teeth to develop. Young teens often rely on them to align the rest of their front teeth correctly. These teeth give the proper form to the upper and lower jaws and, therefore, facial structure.

A tooth may become impacted for a variety of reasons, including

• Inability of the tooth to follow the normal growth track of adjacent teeth
• 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

Early detection and treatment of impacted teeth are important to avoid misalignment and the costly dental or orthodontic treatments that are needed as a result. To diagnose an impacted tooth, your doctor will perform a thorough oral exam, checking for puffiness or swollen gum tissue, redness, tenderness, or drainage in the area of the tooth. The presence of any of these symptoms may indicate an impacted tooth, and your doctor will confirm the suspicion with an X-ray.

Exposure and Bonding

The standard treatment for impacted teeth is exposure and bonding. During these procedures, your orthodontist and oral surgeon work in close collaboration to align the rest of the teeth properly for the impacted tooth to emerge. The orthodontist prepares the mouth by moving the fully grown teeth into their correct position, leaving room for the impacted tooth to grow into its natural position. Then the oral surgeon will lift the bone and gum covering the impacted tooth, exposing it and attaching an orthodontic bracket to the tooth. The orthodontist then uses a very small chain attached to the bracket to pull the impacted tooth gently and, over time, move it into its proper alignment within the dental arch.

If you have an impacted tooth and are in need of exposure and bonding treatment, we encourage you to contact one of our office locations in Gainesville and Watkinsville, GA, to schedule an initial consultation. Dr. Simonton is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and looks forward to caring for you in one of our state-of-the-art surgical facilities.

Where can I get impacted teeth treated near Gainesville, GA?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Fred Simonton, is a specialist in providing solutions for the treatment of complex oral and dental health problems, including the treatment of impacted teeth with exposure and bonding. With two office locations in Gainesville and Watkinsville, GA, Dr. Simonton and his staff serve a wide region, including cities in Georgia as well as cities in South Carolina and North Carolina.