Orthodontic exposure is a surgical procedure to make room for an impacted tooth. An impacted tooth is a tooth that cannot grow in properly and has trouble emerging through the gum line. This can happen for many reasons such as not enough room in the mouth, another tooth is in the way, or the emerging tooth is crooked. A tooth that has grown in partially and stops growing is also considered an impacted tooth. Wisdom teeth are the most common teeth needing orthodontic exposure, but it can happen to any type of tooth.
Orthodontic exposure is typically a team effort between an orthodontist, dentist and surgeon. Sometimes an extraction of an existing tooth is necessary so an impacted tooth can grow in normally.
What Happens at an Appointment
Orthodontic exposure is a procedure that may span months as the teeth straighten and the impacted tooth is exposed. To learn more, the process can be discussed at an appointment.
