Impacted & Missing Teeth

Impacted Teeth

An impacted tooth is one that has failed to erupt normally into the mouth and remains partially or totally covered by the gums and/or bone. Impactions can be caused by improper position of the developing tooth bud, premature loss of primary teeth, and crowding. Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth, but canines and premolars are also commonly impacted.

This problem should be corrected because it can:

• Cause damage to the root structure of adjacent teeth.
• Leave unwanted spaces.
• Lead to improper functioning of the teeth.
• Cause asymmetric alignment of the teeth.

How can impacted teeth be orthodontically corrected?

Usually the impacted tooth is exposed and orthodontically moved into the correct position. Correction of impacted teeth often involves a minor surgical procedure performed by an oral surgeon working closely with our practice. This will allow us to guide the impacted tooth into the proper position.

Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can be the result of congenital absence (the tooth fails to develop), trauma, or dental extractions.

This problem should be corrected because it can:

• Cause improper functioning of teeth.
• Cause premature wear of teeth.
• Cause asymmetric alignment of the teeth.
• Make your smile less attractive.

How can missing teeth be orthodontically corrected?

Depending upon the situation, the space can be closed with braces or opened for tooth replacement. A bridge or dental implant is used to replace the missing tooth if a space is created.