Impacted Canines

In cases where the canines will not erupt spontaneously, the orthodontist and oral surgeon will work together to erupt and reposition the teeth. The most common scenario will require the orthodontist to place braces on the teeth (at least the upper arch) so that a space will be opened to provide room for the impacted tooth to be moved into its proper position in the dental arch. If the baby eyetooth has not fallen out already, it is usually left in place until the space for the adult eyetooth is ready. Once the space is ready, the orthodontist will refer the patient to the oral surgeon to have the impacted canine, or eyetooth, exposed and bracketed.

What To Expect From Surgery To Expose & Bracket An Impacted Tooth

The surgery to expose and bracket an impacted tooth is a very straightforward procedure that is performed in our comfortable office surgical suites. The gum on top of the impacted tooth will be lifted up to expose the hidden tooth underneath. If there is a baby tooth present then it will be removed at this time. Once the tooth is exposed, the oral surgeon will bond an orthodontic bracket to the exposed tooth. The bracket will have a small chain attached to it. The oral surgeon will guide the chain back to the orthodontic arch wire where it will be temporarily attached. Sometimes the surgeon will leave the exposed and impacted tooth completely uncovered by suturing the gum up high above the tooth, or making a small window in the gum covering the tooth. Shortly after surgery (1-14 days) the patient will return to the orthodontist. A rubber band will be attached to the chain to put a light eruptive pulling force on the impacted tooth. This will begin the process of moving the tooth into its proper place in the dental arch. This is a carefully controlled, slow process that may take up to a full year to complete. The goal is to erupt the impacted tooth into proper position, not to extract it. Once the tooth has moved into the arch in its final position, the gum around it will be evaluated to make sure it is sufficiently strong and healthy to last for a lifetime of chewing and tooth brushing. In some circumstances, especially those where the tooth had to be moved a long distance, there may be some minor “gum surgery” required to add bulk to the gum tissue over the relocated tooth so that it remains healthy during normal function. Your dentist or orthodontist will explain this procedure to you if it applies to your specific case. For most patients, it is performed using nitrous and local anesthesia. In select cases, it will be performed under IV sedation, but this is generally not necessary. The procedure is scheduled for approximately 75-95 minutes and the time will vary if there are multiple teeth being exposed and bracketed. The specifics of your procedure will be discussed in detail at your preoperative consultation with our knowledgeable staff.

You can expect a limited amount of bleeding from the surgical sites after surgery. Although there will be some discomfort and swelling, most patients find Tylenol or Advil are sufficient for pain management. By three days post-surgery, most patients discontinue the use of their pain medication. A soft, bland diet is recommended at first, but you may resume your normal diet as soon as you feel comfortable chewing. It is advised that you avoid sharp food items, like crackers and chips, as they can irritate the surgical site during initial healing. Your doctor will see you 7-10 days after surgery to evaluate the healing process and make sure you are maintaining proper oral hygiene. You should plan to see your orthodontist within 1-14 days to activate the eruption process (applying the proper rubber band to the chain on your tooth to create movement).

As always, your doctor is available at the office and can be contacted after hours if any problems should arise after surgery. Simply call Dallas Surgical Arts at (972) 914-3660 today.