Orthodontic Exposure in Princeton and Flemington, NJ
An orthodontic exposure is a common and straightforward surgical procedure that is performed in conjunction with orthodontic (braces) treatment. Its purpose is to uncover an impacted tooth, allowing your orthodontist to gently guide it into its proper position in the dental arch. The board-certified oral surgeons at West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery work closely with local orthodontists to ensure a seamless and successful experience for our patients.
What is an Impacted Tooth?
An impacted tooth is one that is "stuck" and cannot properly erupt into the mouth on its own. This can be caused by overcrowding, the tooth growing in the wrong direction, or other factors. After the wisdom teeth, the maxillary cuspid, also known as the canine or "eye tooth," is the most common tooth to become impacted.
The canine tooth plays a critical role in your dental arch. It is essential for a proper bite and helps to guide your other teeth into position. Because it is such an important tooth for both function and aesthetics, your orthodontist and oral surgeon will make every effort to save an impacted canine and guide it into place rather than extracting it.
When is an Orthodontic Exposure Necessary?
An orthodontic exposure is a key part of the treatment plan to save an impacted tooth. This procedure is often ideal for:
- Patients, typically adolescents, whose permanent canine tooth has not erupted within the normal timeframe.
- Cases where an X-ray has confirmed that a tooth is impacted and will not erupt on its own.
- Situations where the impacted tooth needs to be brought into the dental arch to prevent damage to the roots of adjacent teeth.
- Anyone undergoing orthodontic treatment who needs a surgical procedure to facilitate the proper alignment of their teeth.
Our Approach to Orthodontic Exposures
The team at West Jersey Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has extensive experience performing orthodontic exposure procedures. We work hard to ensure exceptional results and a smooth recovery.
1. A Collaborative Team Approach: We work closely with your orthodontist to coordinate every step of the process. Your orthodontist is responsible for creating the space for the impacted tooth with braces, and after our surgical procedure, they will take over to gently guide the tooth into its final position.
2. Meticulous 3D Planning: Your care begins with a comprehensive evaluation, which includes an advanced 3D CBCT scan. This detailed imaging allows our surgeons to precisely locate the impacted tooth in three dimensions and to see its relationship to the roots of the surrounding teeth, which is critical for planning a safe procedure.
3. Smooth Surgical Procedures: This is a comfortable in-office procedure. Your surgeon will administer the appropriate anesthesia and then make a small incision in the gum tissue to expose the hidden, impacted tooth. A small orthodontic bracket with an attached chain is then bonded to the exposed tooth. The chain is left accessible for your orthodontist to later attach to your braces.
4. Anesthesia for Your Comfort: The comfort of our patients, many of whom are adolescents, is our top priority. We offer a full range of anesthesia options for this procedure, from local anesthetic and nitrous oxide to IV sedation, to ensure a completely calm and anxiety-free experience.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Orthodontic Exposure and other procedures.
"Hi, I'm Adam, and I'm from Lambertville, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for wisdom teeth removal and a gum graft. The staff was bubbly, energetic, and there to support you. The doctors here are absolutely amazing. They make you feel comfortable, always there to answer questions. Great bedside manners. My procedure went great for both of them. It was probably a day or two recovery, and I was back in action. My quality of life has definitely improved when I have a good smile, makes me more confident meeting other people. Overall experience here was great. I would a hundred percent recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I am Bill. I'm from Fort Good River and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for a dental implant. When I first walked into the practice, I was greeted very warmly. Everyone was very nice to me. The staff was very attentive, and my doctor was very informative, went over everything that he was going to do, made sure that I didn't have any questions, and that I was very comfortable. My procedure went very well. My quality of life has improved because I can actually chew as if it was my original tooth. My overall experience was very good. I would absolutely recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to anyone who is really interested in having a good outcome."
"Hi, I'm Bill from Flemington, and I came to West Jersey Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for several extractions and dental implants. When I first came into the practice, it felt very welcoming, warm—people were very friendly. The staff here, very professional. The doctor was very empathetic, fully explained what was gonna happen, and during the procedures, actually kept me up to date on what he was doing. The procedures I had done, the extractions as well as the implants, went extremely well. My experience was nurturing, caring. To all my friends in Somerset County, Flemington, and Somerville, I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Gabby from Califon and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I felt super at ease. There were lots of smiles and friendly faces. It was a great place to be. My doctor was super nice, and when he walked in the room, he introduced himself with the biggest smile on his face, and he told me about the procedure and just really put me at ease. The procedure went so well, and the recovery was easy and smooth. I'm so happy to have a healthy smile. To all my friends and family in Somerset County, Flemington and Somerville. I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Gen from Normandy Beach. I came to West Jersey Oral Maxillofacial and Dental Implant Surgery for dental implants. How I felt when I first walked into this practice was a sense of trust. I had a lot of trust in the doctors and their capabilities. My overall experience has been great. I got a call after the procedure was done to make sure that things were going well and I had an easy recovery. I'm always impressed with how my implant is so rock solid. It's so important to have a healthy smile. It gives you a lot of confidence. I highly recommend West Jersey Oral Maxillofacial and Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Izumi from Flemington. I came to this practice for an implant. People here are very welcoming and make me feel at ease. My doctor, from the beginning, he was very calm and able to answer any questions that I had. My procedure was quite easy. It was much better than what I expected. Having a healthy smile is very important for my professional life. My overall experience is great. Way more than what I expected. Everything went smooth. I felt really great about all the procedures that I went through here. I definitely recommend West Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons."
"Hi, I'm Jacob from Holland Township, and I came to West Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, the people here gave off a wonderful, welcoming vibe. They're friendly, and they knew exactly what they were doing. My doctor was great, and I knew I was in great hands. They gave me all the information that I needed, and I felt completely comfortable. The procedure went fantastic. The recovery went well, too. Having a healthy smile means everything; it's very important. Overall, my experience with this practice was amazing. They really took care of me, and I knew I was in safe hands. I would recommend West Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. They did a professional and wonderful job."
"Hi, I'm Jimmy from Lebanon Township and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I felt at home. Everybody was welcoming, greeted me with smiles and good customer service. Everybody was charismatic and caring. My doctor was very professional, super friendly, and put me at ease before my procedure and answered any questions I had brought to him. My procedure went well. I had practically no time between me finishing my procedure and when I was able to get back to work. Having a healthy smile is really important to me. Out of five stars, I would rate this practice five stars. I would highly recommend people to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Kait from Madison, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for an implant. When I first walked in, I just felt incredibly welcome and at ease. The staff was really accommodating. My doctor is incredibly kind, very open-minded, and empathetic. My procedures went very well. After the procedures, I am very happy. I feel a lot more confident about my smile and ultimately just feel really happy that I have a care team that I know I can rely on. I would happily recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to friends, family that just really put you at the front as the patient, and it's an excellent experience."
Schedule Your Consultation
If you or your child have been referred by an orthodontist for an exposure of an impacted tooth, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our surgical team. Contact our Princeton or Flemington office today to learn more.