Close
Close

Request an Appointment

**Requested time is not final until you receive confirmation from our office.
Please do not submit any Protected Health Information (PHI).
Thank you!
Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Exposure & Bonding in Alexandria

Impacted teeth that are partially or fully covered by excess gum tissue or bone can be exposed to improve appearance and prepared for additional orthodontic treatment.

Reveal your best smile

What is Exposure & Bonding?

Exposure and bonding are two separate procedures that are completed in tandem. The surgery is performed to reveal the teeth that are stuck below the gumline and to assist in their eruption into the mouth. This surgery is closely coordinated between your oral surgeon and orthodontist.

The benefits of Exposure & Bonding

When teeth become impacted, or don’t fully erupt from the gums, they can cause both aesthetic and functional issues. Exposure and bonding is performed to release these fully or partially covered teeth to allow for treatments like orthodontics to align your smile to enhance your smile’s esthetics and function.

  • Prevent oral health issues
  • Prepare for orthodontic treatment
  • Improve your smile’s appearance
tooth exposure and bonding in Alexandria

Prevent & prepare

Commonly affected teeth

While any tooth can be impacted, or trapped below the gumline, certain teeth are more susceptible to becoming impacted.

Impacted canines

Canine teeth, or cuspids, are located between the incisors and premolars, and usually have a longer, more pointed shape than other teeth. Because of their place in the mouth, they are the most common type of tooth that fail to make it through the gum line. We can expose and bond these teeth, and work with your orthodontist to pull them into the right position. Once the procedure is complete, you’ll likely find it easier to eat certain foods and to smile with confidence.

The exposure and bonding process

Your doctor will create a custom treatment plan tailored to your unique dentition and oral health and go over it in great detail with you, but here’s what you can expect from the process:

1

Consultation and treatment planning

Your board-certified oral surgeon in Alexandria will begin by examining your teeth and gums to determine whether exposure and bonding is the best option for your needs. The plan for your surgery will be coordinated with your orthodontist to ensure a successful outcome. They will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have, including sedation options and how to prepare for treatment.

2

The procedure

Once exposure and bonding is deemed appropriate, the surgeon will carefully lift up the gum tissue and remove a small amount of bone to expose a portion of the tooth surface. Next they will prepare the tooth for bonding by etching the surface with a special solution that helps the bracket bond to the tooth. Lastly, the bracket is connected to the orthodontic arch arch wire with a gold chain or spring.

3

Recovery and next steps

After the procedure, your oral surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for your teeth and gums as they heal. Follow up appointments with the surgeon as well as the orthodontist are very important to ensure the proper eruption of the impacted or stuck tooth.