Tooth Exposure – Casper, WY
Guiding Impacted Teeth Into Their Proper Place
At Casper Children’s Dental Clinic, Dr. Paulson and our team want healthy smiles to be the goal for all children. While some experience few if any issues along the way, others struggle with cavities, tooth decay, and even impaction. When permanent teeth remain within the gum tissue and refuse to move into place, we offer what is called tooth exposure in Casper. By guiding them into their proper place (and in alignment), these teeth can provide your child with the healthier smile they deserve. If your child has one or more teeth that don’t want to erupt, call to schedule an appointment today.
What is Tooth Exposure?
Tooth exposure is a procedure dentists use to move impacted teeth or those that have not fully erupted (i.e., canine teeth) into alignment so that your child can enjoy a healthier, more attractive smile.
Although this problem can occur because of genetics or lack of space, our team can develop a strategy that will encourage the tooth (or teeth) to move, so they emerge successfully and begin to function appropriately.
With tooth exposure, your child no longer has to worry about infection, an improper bite, or overcrowding; instead, they can enjoy a beautifully aligned smile that is easy to clean and generates greater confidence.
How Does Tooth Exposure Work?
Our Casper Children’s Dental Clinic team will begin by examining your child’s mouth to determine if any impacted canine teeth exist. If so, we will create a treatment plan that indicates how we will remove the fibrous tissue so that the tooth (or teeth) can begin to move.
After going over the details of the plan with you and your child, we will establish a time for surgery. When the day arrives, we will begin by administering local anesthesia to numb your child’s tooth and its surrounding area. Once they are completely comfortable, we will use our electrocautery device, which is a soft tissue device that gently removes fibrous tissue without causing excessive bleeding or swelling, to expose the impacted tooth. This allows it to move into alignment with the rest of your child’s teeth.
If the tooth is not impacted but has just not pushed through the gums completely, the same device can be used to remove infected tissues that are keeping the tooth from fully erupting.
Once this process is complete, we will then begin orthodontic bonding, which requires placing a bracket on the tooth that is connected to an orthodontic wire. This small piece encourages the tooth to move downward over time.
Recovering from Tooth Exposure
After your child’s tooth exposure procedure, there are a few instructions our team will provide to ensure they recover well. A few tips you will want to keep in mind include:
- Closely watching your child after they return home to make sure the surgical area does not bleed excessively. The use of the soft tissue device should minimize this problem; however, if you notice the problem worsening, make sure to call our office right away.
- Giving your child appropriate pain medication to reduce discomfort and soreness. If we believe your child could benefit from antibiotics, we will make sure they are prescribed so that you can administer the proper dosage once you and your child are home.
- Feeding your child soft foods in the days following their procedure. Mashed potatoes, yogurt, and other similar foods can be suitable to prevent irritation. Also, make sure they do not eat anything spicy, hot, or hard.