Your canine teeth are an incredibly important part of your oral function. These teeth help you chew properly and frame your smile to give you a more aesthetic appearance. If these teeth are impacted, they can cause significant damage to the adjacent teeth, leading to tooth loss or the development of cysts, tumors or other problems around the impacted tooth.

An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to erupt correctly, and after the wisdom teeth, the canine teeth are the most common type of tooth to be impacted. Our dentist can provide treatments to expose the canine teeth and help them erupt properly in your mouth. This type of treatment is frequently referred to as “exposure and bonding.”

When you receive this treatment, our dentist will uncover the impacted tooth and bond an orthodontic attachment to it. The attachment is connected to a small chain and a rubber band, which apply gentle traction and pressure to help the tooth erupt through the gums and guide it into the correct position. This process is done slowly and carefully to ensure the right results and may take as long as a year to complete.

After the tooth has been moved into its final position Dr. Erik Palmberg will evaluate the surrounding teeth and gum tissue to ensure that you are able to brush your teeth and chew normally. If any additional treatments are needed to ensure that your surrounding gum tissue is healthy, they will be recommended at this time.

To learn more about canine exposure in Littleton, Colorado, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Palmberg, contact us today at (303) 741-4600.