Exposure & Bonding
Exposure and Bonding for Impacted Smiles
Impacted teeth can hinder your smile's aesthetic appeal and even your oral health. Exposure and bonding is a minimally invasive procedure that helps impacted teeth that are hidden beneath your gum line to emerge into their proper position within your smile.
Is This Procedure Right For You?
You Want a Straighter, Healthier Smile
Impacted teeth can lead to crowding, misalignment, and difficulties maintaining oral hygiene. This procedure can help you achieve a straighter, more functional smile.
You Want to Improve Your Smile’s Aesthetics
A perfectly aligned smile is what we all imagine when picturing a beautiful smile. This procedure can help you align your teeth to achieve this ideal.
You Want to Preserve Your Natural Teeth
Unlike extractions, exposure and bonding work to preserve your natural teeth as much as possible, giving you the reassurance of a long-lasting, natural smile.
You Want a Minimally Invasive Treatment
Because we typically perform this procedure under local anesthesia, it is comfortable and less invasive than other smile solutions with more complex interventions.
The Process
Meeting Dr. Slaughter
Your treatment journey will begin with a consultation with our oral surgeon, Dr. Slaughter, who is excited about the opportunity to help all patients achieve an improved smile. During this examination, he will assess the position of your impacted tooth and begin coordinating your treatment with your orthodontist.
If you do not yet have braces or an orthodontist, this is something that will be discussed during your initial consultation. Dr. Slaughter and his team will also take the time to explain the procedure in detail and answer any questions you may have.
When You Should Seek Our Help
Here are a few symptoms our patients with impacted teeth have experienced, and signs that may indicate that you could have an impacted tooth:
- Swelling in your jaw, face, or gums
- Consistent pain or discomfort in the jaw or teeth
- Bleeding or tenderness around your gums
- Difficulty chewing or opening your mouth wide
- Consistent bad breath or unpleasant taste
- Gaps in your smile or misaligned teeth
Addressing The Problem
This procedure involves two key steps for success:
- Surgical Exposure: This is where Dr. Slaughter will gently lift your gum tissue and remove any bone that is obstructing the tooth's path before preparing the surface of the tooth for bonding.
- Orthodontic Bonding: Once the first step is completed, he will secure a small orthodontic bracket to the exposed tooth, which is then connected to your orthodontic wires. This is what helps gently guide your tooth into its correct position.
Before your surgical exposure, braces will need to be placed in order to create space for your impacted tooth to erupt. Dr. Slaughter, along with your orthodontist, will then be able to closely monitor the tooth's movement throughout your treatment.
Recovering After Your Procedure
After your procedure, Dr. Slaughter will go through your post-operative care instructions in detail and give you these instructions to review again at home. You will also need to book follow-up appointments with our team as advised, as monitoring the progress of your shirting tooth is a crucial part of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
While any tooth can become impacted, canine teeth (cuspids) are particularly susceptible due to their position in the mouth. Canine teeth are located between the incisors and premolars and typically have a longer, more pointed shape.
For some impacted teeth, such as wisdom teeth, removal may be the most appropriate treatment option. It's crucial to discuss all available treatment options with your oral surgeon and orthodontist.
Our anesthesia options for exposure and bonding include local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia, depending on your needs. If you’re worried about your anxiety during this procedure, please speak to our team—we’d love to give you peace of mind.
