What is a surgical tooth exposure?

In some cases a tooth will not erupt from under the gums into the mouth. This most often occurs with upper canine teeth, but can occur with any tooth. A surgical tooth exposure is where a surgeon lifts the gum to get access to the unerupted tooth and often puts an orthodontic bracket on the tooth so an orthodontist can pull it into proper position. The position of the tooth and the manner that the procedure is completed can affect how easy the tooth can be moved and the health of the gums when the tooth is in place. The Periodontist works with the orthodontist to determine the best method to expose the tooth creating the best periodontal health after the tooth has been moved into position.

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