Open Exposure of Impacted Teeth - Made Simple

Expedentist. Surgeons Who Make You Smile

What is an Open Exposure?

Sometimes teeth that should be in the arch become impacted, which means that they have become stuck within the bone or against another tooth. This happens most commonly with canine teeth, and as part of orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist may recommend having your impacted canine exposed and unburied so that it may move into the arch and into your smile.

Who can have an Open Exposure?

As part of orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will discuss with you whether attempting to move an impacted tooth into the dental arch is right for you. The decision is always yours, and their recommendation will depend on factors such as the amount of space in your mouth, and the position of the impacted tooth. Unfortunately, not all impacted teeth are suitable for an open exposure. They may be due to their positioning or angle making it unlikely for them to be able to move into the dental arch. In these cases, the impacted teeth can either be left where they are or removed by an Expedentist surgeon if they likely to cause problems in the future.

How is it done?

Depending on the position of the tooth, additional 3D scans may be needed to further determine where the tooth is impacted. Your surgeon will then make the area numb, ensuring the procedure is completely painless. The gum is then gently lifted and any bone that is obstructing the impacted tooth is carefully removed. The gum is then replaced with dissolvable stitches, leaving a small window open for the tooth to move through so that it may take its place within your dental arch.

Why Choose Expedentist?

Passionate about high standards and painless surgical care, our Expedentist surgeons are here to get you the treatment you need, when you need it. With no hidden fees, our transparent pricing mean that there are no unexpected surprises on the day, giving you the confidence that we are the surgeons that can make you smile.