Exposure of Impacted Teeth in Caldwell and Florham Park, NJ

Tooth Exposure Treatment

At NJ Oral for Oral Surgery, Dr. Michael H. Kirsch, DDS, Dr. Benjamin Jacobs, DMD and Dr. Charlie Levin, DDS are committed to providing excellent care and ensuring safe and effective oral procedures for patients. Our surgeons can perform oral surgery to expose and bracket an impacted tooth. 

Read our friendly guide below to learn more about how our oral surgeons can safely and effectively expose your impacted teeth.

What is an impacted tooth?

An impacted tooth simply means that it’s stuck in your gums and can’t properly erupt into place with the rest of your smile. Most patients frequently develop problems with impacted teeth with their third molars (wisdom). Wisdom teeth require extraction since they get stuck in the back of the jaw and can develop painful infections, among a host of other problems. 

The maxillary cuspid, also known as upper eyeteeth or canine, is the second most common tooth to become impacted. The cuspid tooth plays an important role since they’re very strong teeth and have the longest roots of any other teeth in your mouth. They’re designed to be the first teeth that touch when your jaws close together, guiding the rest of your bite into the proper place.

What Is Tooth Exposure Surgery?

Tooth exposure surgery involves exposing the unerupted tooth to get it to erupt into its proper position. The surgery can be used for impacted canines as well as any impacted tooth in the upper or lower jaw. 60 percent of these impacted canines are located on the palatal (roof of the mouth) side of the dental arch. The remaining impacted canines are found in the middle of the supporting bone but are stuck in an elevated position above the roots of the adjacent teeth. They can also be out to the facial side of the dental arch.

Signs & Symptoms of Impacted Teeth

Tooth exposure surgery is necessary if you have impacted teeth. Common signs and symptoms of an impacted tooth include:

• Headaches 
• Jawbone pain
• Tender or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums 
• Overcrowded teeth
• Leftover baby teeth
• Teeth erupting at the wrong angles
• Bad breath/taste in your mouth

Diagnosing Impacted Teeth

The older the patient is, the harder it is for teeth to erupt alone, even if there’s space for the teeth to align with the dental arch. During your initial consultation, your oral surgeon will conduct a cone beam CAT scan to see a 3D view of the impacted teeth within the jaws as well as any other abnormalities that may show. If your oral surgeon sees any extra teeth, extraction will be needed. Your oral surgeon will extract any extra teeth (supernumerary teeth) or growths that are blocking the adult teeth from erupting.

Tooth Exposure Treatment Process

The earlier we perform tooth exposure surgery, the more likely your impacted teeth will naturally grow without any issues. In cases where your tooth doesn’t erupt spontaneously, the orthodontist and oral surgeon will work together to get these teeth to erupt. Each case must be evaluated on an individual basis, but treatment will usually involve a combined effort between the orthodontist and the oral surgeon.

At NJ Center for Oral Surgery, the surgery to expose and bracket the impacted teeth is a very straightforward procedure. Your oral surgeon will expose and bracket the impacted eyetooth. For most patients, IV sedation is provided to ensure a comfortable and relaxing state during the procedure.

Our goal is to erupt the impacted tooth and not to extract it. Once the tooth has moved into its final position, the gum around it will be evaluated. In some circumstances, there may be some minor gum surgery required.

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Exposure and Bracketing of an Impacted Cuspid

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does tooth exposure hurt?

At NJ Center for Oral Surgery, we prioritize your safety and comfort. We’ll provide you with a local anesthetic and IV sedation to ensure you’ll feel little to no pain or discomfort during your procedure. Your oral surgeon will also provide you with instructions to prepare yourself for the procedure.

After the procedure, it’s normal to feel some pain and discomfort after the anesthesia and sedation wear off. This can be alleviated by taking over-the-counter medications and using a cold compress. If you continue to experience soreness, call our Caldwell office at (973)-NJ Center for Oral Surgery Phone Number 973-226-8444, or our Florham Park office at (973)-Florham Park Office (North Tower) Phone Number 973-261-8444, and we’ll schedule an appointment right away.

What happens if I don’t undergo a tooth exposure treatment?

If your impacted tooth is left untreated, it can negatively affect your oral health. The impacted teeth can result in jaw pain and headaches due to jaw pain. Since the impacted tooth isn’t in its proper place, it can cause your teeth to shift and become misaligned. Misaligned teeth can increase the chances of oral infection, cavities, and gum disease.

Visit NJ Center for Oral Surgery Today

If you have an impacted tooth, it’s important to seek treatment right away to prevent oral health issues in the future. At NJ Center for Oral Surgery, our oral surgeons have the skills and experience to safely and effectively expose your impacted tooth. Our team in Caldwell and Florham Park is dedicated to helping you get the care you need in the surrounding Newark areas such as Morristown, Springfield, and Little Falls, NJ.

To schedule an appointment with one of our oral surgeons, call our Caldwell office at (973)-NJ Center for Oral Surgery Phone Number 973-226-8444, or our Florham Park office at (973)-Florham Park Office (North Tower) Phone Number 973-261-8444. You can also fill out the contact form and one of our staff will be happy to assist you.