Tooth bracketing is an essential procedure that helps fix the problems that an impacted tooth causes. Here is what bracketing is and how it can counteract the negative effects of an impacted tooth.
The Effects of Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth occur when they do not erupt properly. Tooth eruption is when a tooth breaks through the gum line when growing into place. While most teeth grow in without incident, some teeth may become impacted.
Impacted teeth often cause complications, including damage to other teeth, decreased bone density in the area, cysts, and cavities.
What Causes Impacted Teeth
Baby teeth that take too long to fall out can block the growth of adult teeth. Impacted teeth fail to erupt through the gums and end up fully or partially stuck. The maxillary canines are typically the most common teeth to become impacted, as they are often the last front teeth to erupt. While impaction most often affects upper canine teeth, this problem can affect any tooth.
How Brackets Work
Orthodontic brackets provide a way to bring an impacted tooth into its proper position. To bracket a tooth, an oral surgeon will first expose the tooth’s surface by removing any obstructing bone or gum tissue. Next, a bracket will be affixed to the tooth with an adhesive. A small chain joins the bracket to an orthodontic archwire.
At least a few days after the initial procedure, a rubber band will be added to apply accelerated force to the chain to pull the tooth slowly into place.
Benefits of Bracketing
In children, early treatment for impacted teeth goes a long way in preventing future dental health issues. If an impacted tooth goes unnoticed for an extended length of time, it is more likely that an oral surgeon will need to extract it. For this reason, children and teenagers are the most common patients who receive brackets for impacted teeth.
To prevent problems such as tooth impaction, children should receive orthodontic screenings for similar issues at an early age.
When Tooth Bracketing is Necessary
Impacted teeth can cause discomfort and pain if they go undetected for too long. While tooth impaction can disrupt a child or adult’s oral health, effective treatments, including tooth brackets, are available to solve this issue. Exposing and bracketing an impacted tooth helps the tooth erupt fully and eliminates any negative health consequences of having a blocked tooth.
At Jackson Oral Surgery, we provide top-quality maxillofacial and oral surgery services. Contact our team today to book an appointment with Dr. Jackson.