ProviderHelping Teeth Find Their Way to Their Ideal Position
When a tooth is impacted, it means that it has not erupted into the dental arch and is partially or fully stuck beneath the gums.
Impacted teeth can cause many oral health problems, but this condition can be treated through oral surgery and orthodontics.
If you or your child have an impacted tooth, Dr. Greg Nalchajian, Dr. Victoria Geren, and Dr. Nicole Nalchajian can use orthodontic appliances to help the tooth successfully align with the other teeth.
Contact Nalchajian Orthodontics today for a consultation and to learn more about assisted eruption of impacted teeth in Fresno and Clovis, CA.
Flexible Payment Plans to Make You Smile
Investing in a straighter, healthier smile has never been easier. At Nalchajian Orthodontics, we help patients and their families manage the cost of orthodontic treatment with flexible in-house payment plans and convenient financing with CareCredit.
Treating Impacted Teeth
Following a comprehensive examination, including X-rays and 3D scanning, our orthodontists will develop a personalized treatment plan to guide the impacted tooth along its natural eruption path.
With treatment, the impacted tooth will find its way into the dental arch, right where it should be. If a baby tooth is blocking a permanent tooth, a simple tooth extraction may resolve the issue. Many impacted teeth are treated through assisted eruption, which is a joint effort between your orthodontist and your oral surgeon.
When assisted eruption treatment begins, braces are typically the first step. Braces prepare the mouth and make room for the impacted tooth to move into its position.
Next, an oral surgeon will perform a procedure to carefully move the overlying gum or bone tissue and expose the trapped tooth. A small orthodontic bracket and chain will be bonded to the exposed tooth. Your orthodontist will use the chain to gently pull the tooth into the dental arch and guide it into place.
The length of treatment depends on other orthodontic issues you are looking to correct. Once a bracket is bonded to the impacted tooth, it generally takes several months to pull the tooth into the desired location.
Why Treat Impacted Teeth?
Treating impacted teeth will benefit your oral and overall health by allowing all of the teeth to have proper space in the dental arch.
If you or your child has an impacted tooth or would like an evaluation from a skilled orthodontist, we encourage you to contact Nalchajian Orthodontics in Fresno or Clovis. Our orthodontic specialists treat impacted teeth in patients of all ages and look forward to helping you achieve a healthy, beautifully aligned smile.
Tooth Impaction FAQs
Want to learn more about tooth impaction and orthodontic-assisted eruption? Read through the answers to these frequently asked questions.
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Does the assisted eruption procedure hurt?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you’ll be comfortable throughout. Mild soreness or swelling afterward is common and usually managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients return to school or work within a day or two.
Your orthodontic team will provide aftercare instructions to keep the area clean and promote quick healing.
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How does the assisted eruption procedure work?
Assisted eruption is done in two simple steps:
- Surgical exposure: The oral surgeon carefully opens the gum tissue to access the tooth.
- Orthodontic guidance: A small bracket or gold chain is bonded to the tooth and attached to your braces. Over time, gentle pressure brings the tooth into its ideal position.
Depending on how deeply the tooth is impacted, full eruption may take several months, but the results are permanent and natural-looking.
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What happens after my tooth has erupted?
Once your tooth comes into the right position, your orthodontist will continue to fine-tune the alignment of your smile. When your braces come off, a retainer helps maintain your results.
With good oral hygiene and regular checkups, your newly positioned tooth will look and function just like every other tooth, completing your confident, healthy smile.
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What is assisted eruption of an impacted tooth?
Orthodontic-assisted eruption is an impacted tooth treatment that helps guide a tooth that hasn’t come in on its own, usually an impacted canine, into the correct position.
Your orthodontist and oral surgeon work together to guide the tooth to its final position: the surgeon gently exposes the tooth, and the orthodontist uses light traction (often with braces or a small gold chain) to move it into place.
This treatment restores both the function and appearance of your smile.
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Why do some teeth become impacted?
A tooth can become impacted (stuck under the gums or bone) for several reasons:
- Not enough space in the jaw
- The tooth growing at the wrong angle
- Obstructions such as extra teeth or dense bone
- Genetic factors
Impacted teeth are most common in the upper canines, which are important for a balanced bite and smile. Early orthodontic evaluation can help detect and treat this issue before it causes complications.
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Why Treat an Impacted Tooth?
By treating impacted teeth early, we can ensure the tooth functions properly and benefit the development of other teeth. Treating an impacted tooth also benefits your smile’s appearance and will help you feel more confident with straight, aligned teeth. Leaving an impacted tooth untreated can lead to numerous oral health problems, including:
- Jaw pain
- Shifting or crowding of teeth
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Damage to nearby teeth
- Gum inflammation
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth decay or tooth loss
- Tenderness or pain
Some impacted teeth naturally erupt into the dental arch on their own, but this is rare. Some level of oral surgery and/or orthodontics are often necessary to help the tooth emerge and ensure it properly aligns and functions.