Tooth Exposure

Sometimes permanent teeth get impacted (stuck in the bone) and need to be uncovered. The maxillary cuspid (upper eye tooth) and mandibular premolars (lower side tooth) are the most common teeth to become impacted, excluding wisdom teeth. The cuspid tooth is a critical tooth in the dental arch and plays an important role in your “bite”. They are designed to be the first teeth that touch when your jaws close together so they guide the rest of the teeth into the proper bite.

The maxillary cuspid and mandibular premolar teeth are the last teeth to erupt into place around age 12. If a tooth gets impacted, every effort is made to get it to erupt into its proper position in the dental arch.

In a simple surgical procedure performed in Dr. Marlene Miller’s office, 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, it will be removed at the same time. Once the tooth is exposed, Dr. Marlene Miller will bond an orthodontic gold button to the exposed tooth. The button will have a miniature gold chain attached to it. She will guide the chain back to the orthodontic arch wire where it will be temporarily attached until the orthodontist is seen. Sometimes Dr. Marlene Miller will leave the exposed impacted tooth completely uncovered by suturing the gum up high above the tooth or making a window in the gum covering the tooth.