Impacted Tooth Exposure
Canine Impaction
While wisdom teeth are often extracted even if they are not impacted, canine teeth are very important to the bite and function of the mouth. Treating an impacted canine is a joint effort between an orthodontist and an oral surgeon to ensure the tooth comes into the right place in the mouth. Around the age of 11 or 12, canine teeth will erupt into the mouth. This makes them the last primary teeth to come in. Canine teeth are essential to the mouth because they guide the alignment of the other teeth. An impacted canine tooth is common for several reasons:
- Baby teeth are still in place/do not fall out in time.
- The tooth’s path is blocked due to unusual growths.
- There is a misalignment of the surrounding teeth.
- Rarely, extra teeth in the mouth will prevent a canine tooth from coming in.
Regularly scheduled checkups with your dentist are important for everyone. Your dentist can follow the development of your child’s teeth and can refer or treat as soon as a problem arises. An X-ray or CT scan can confirm an impacted tooth if it is suspected. In general, an impacted canine should be exposed as early as possible to help it grow in on its own.
Exposing an impacted tooth means your oral surgeon and orthodontist will work together. First, your orthodontist will move the nearby teeth into new positions to create a space for the impacted tooth to come in. This procedure is performed in-office with local anesthesia or IV sedation. Then, your oral surgeon will perform a minor procedure to expose the impacted tooth. A small chain and orthodontic bracket are then bonded to the tooth, which your orthodontist will use to move the canine into place as it comes in.
Some discomfort after the exposure of the impacted tooth is normal and expected. Pain management options, along with pre- and post-operative instructions, will be discussed in advance of your procedure.
If you or your child has an impacted tooth, Oral Surgery Services can help. We will create a customized treatment plan and help you to feel safe, comfortable, and informed every step of the way. We have two offices conveniently located in Metairie, LA, and Gretna, LA. We encourage you to call our office for a consultation. We look forward to caring for you and your loved ones.
Types of Anesthesia
As oral surgeons, Dr. Smith, Dr. Ferguson, and Dr. Chuang have undergone years of training to become experts at performing all types of oral and maxillofacial procedures, including the safe administration of anesthesia. Your treatment plan, including your options for anesthesia, will be discussed in detail before your procedure.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Impacted Tooth Exposure and other procedures.
"Hi, I'm Al from Chalmette. I came to see Dr. Ferguson for a dental implant. When I first walked in, it was amazing. I found the staff here to be very helpful and friendly. Dr. Ferguson, he was like an old friend to me and he explained everything, all the procedures to me about the implants. The procedure went very good, better than I thought, and the outcome is fantastic. My quality of life is fantastic, and now I just feel more confident in myself. To all my family and friends in Laplace, I would highly recommend Dr. Ferguson."
"Hi, I'm Alex from Kenner, and I went to Oral Surgery Services to get my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I was greeted with nice smiles and good scenery. Everybody made me feel comfortable. I knew I was in good hands. Dr. Ferguson was a very nice man who made sure I felt safe. My procedure went so well. My recovery went very smoothly and within due time I was fine. It feels great to have a beautiful, healthy smile, all because of Dr. Ferguson. My overall experience at Oral Surgery Services was very nice. Everybody was super kind and friendly and the surgery was perfect. All my friends and family and Estelle, I highly recommend Oral Surgery Services."
"My name’s Alicia, I live in New Orleans, and I came to OSS for extractions and bone grafting. The overall experience was just very pleasant. The environment is very calm and warm and welcoming. Everybody was really helpful. I felt safe, which is really important to me. Dr. Smith was very transparent. He made me feel very comfortable. My recovery was just as I expected, just as the doctor told me it was going to be. It was very quick. It was so smooth, I didn’t even know it happened. I would one hundred percent recommend OSS to anyone in New Orleans or Jefferson Parish."
"My name is Amy, and I am from Metairie, Louisiana. My son was here for services with Dr. Ferguson. Our orthodontist found that his wisdom teeth were coming in at a severe angle — all four — and she referred us to Dr. Ferguson for that extraction. Dr. Ferguson is an ultimate professional. He made us extremely comfortable from the first meeting. The staff here is professional and very efficient. My son’s surgery went extremely well, and recovery went very well, actually a little better than I was expecting. Overall, my family had an exceptional experience here. For my family and friends in Metairie, I would highly recommend OSS."
"Hi, I'm Anne from New Orleans. I am a parent of a wisdom tooth patient, and we came to Oral Surgery Services. The staff was wonderful from the word go from the beginning. We saw Dr. Ferguson, and he was absolutely fantastic. Dr. Ferguson is incredibly personable he is on top of his game. The procedure for our son went incredibly well and it's been perfect ever since. It was a very great experience. I highly recommend oral surgery services."
"My name is Ashley. I live in Kenner, Louisiana, and I had a tooth extraction. I had two surgeries on my jaw to remove abscesses, and I had an implant placed so that I could ultimately get a permanent tooth. Everything went great, I’ve now got the permanent tooth, and I have had zero problems with it — it’s been great, and I absolutely have no worries about it for the future ever having any problems with it again. Oh, when I first came in to meet everyone, it was amazing. I walked in the door, I was greeted immediately, I was comfortable. Dr. Ferguson is an excellent, excellent surgeon and a wonderful human being — the way he treated me, and he just genuinely cares about his patients. Dr. Ferguson and his team made me feel like family here. I had a great experience here, and I would highly recommend Oral Surgery Services."
"My name is Cecelia. I’m from Metairie, Louisiana, and I had a dental extraction, bone graft, and a dental implant. I was very apprehensive before coming in. First of all, I’d never had anything like this — you hear about it — but they’re very nice. It’s a busy office, but you never feel rushed, and it’s personable service. Staff is very kind. They are very warm and cordial. Dr. Smith is very professional and very knowledgeable. Everything went well, and I had a very good experience. For my friends and family in Metairie and the New Orleans area, I highly recommend Dr. Smith."
"Hi, I'm Cindy from Metairie. I came to Oral Surgery Services for a dental implant. The staff were amazing. They were very gentle, friendly, and warm and welcoming. Just made me feel right at home. Dr. Ferguson, he's an excellent surgeon. He is also an MD. His qualifications are impeccable and I really, really felt comfortable in his care. My procedure was very smooth. Everything was just perfect. My quality of life has improved immensely. It feels wonderful to have a beautiful, healthy smile again. I would definitely recommend oral surgery services to everyone."
"My name is David and I am from, born and raised, in New Orleans, and my dentist recommended me to Dr. Ferguson for the possibility of getting implants. My overall experience here has been exceptional. When I first walked in, the team made me feel comfortable and at home. Dr. Ferguson has a great bedside manner. I think that put me at quite a bit of ease when I first met him. He’s guided me through this procedure and he’s going to see me through the procedure. I would strongly recommend Oral Surgery Services to anyone—New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner—but I think it’s well worth a visit from anywhere."
Learn More About Us
We invite you to learn more about our practice and get to know our team and our doctors! At Oral Surgery Services, we are committed to providing quality care. Together with our friendly and highly trained staff, we are determined to exceed your oral health goals by providing personalized care and comprehensive solutions.