Apple Valley, Minnesota Orthodontist Treats Impacted Teeth

Monday, May 31, 2009- ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – In a perfect world of dealing with imperfect teeth, an orthodontist can place braces on the teeth and achieve proper alignment for patients over the course of treatment.

But sometimes, straightening teeth isn’t so simple; particularly in the case of impacted teeth, said Apple Valley Orthodontist Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth.

Eisenhuth occasionally treats patients with impacted teeth at her Apple Valley, Minnesota orthodontics practice and she thinks “it’s amazing what can be done to correct this problem,” she said.

Tooth impaction occurs when a tooth cannot erupt because it is blocked by another tooth, bone or soft tissue. It is important that impacted teeth be treated because without treatment, they can cause future dental problems, Eisenhuth said. As impacted teeth attempt to erupt, they can press against the teeth or bone that are blocking them and cause jaw pain.

Impacted canine teeth in particular can cause a host of problems.

“Canines can erupt into an unfavorable position, sometimes even causing an adult tooth to fall out,” Eisenhuth said.

Impacted teeth also can create unwanted spaces in the mouth, damage the roots of nearby teeth, lead the teeth to function improperly or adversely impact the sinus cavity.

There are several methods of addressing impacted teeth:

•Expanders- used to create needed space for the tooth to improve its eruption path.

•Open forced eruption- patient is referred to an oral surgeon, who will uncover the impacted tooth by creating a flap and leaving an area to place a button or bracket on it.

•Closed Forced Eruption- similar to open forced eruption, but the flap is closed once the button or braces are placed on the impacted tooth.

•Extraction- tooth is removed and any space left in the area can be treated by placing a dental implant or by closing the space via orthodontic methods.

•Surgical Repositioning- helpful in cases where impacted teeth have proven otherwise difficult to treat, this method involves carefully repositioning the tooth, which often is growing in the wrong direction and placing it in a semi-erupted position to provide the best chance for it to grow into place properly.

Read the full article titled "Apple Valley, Minnesota Orthodontist Treats Impacted Teeth".

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about how impacted teeth are treated through orthodontics, if you want to learn more about the orthodontics practice of Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth or you would like to schedule a consultation with her, please call: (651) 406-8100 or visit her Web site: www.doctorjennifer.com.

About Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth

Dr. Eisenhuth attended the University of Minnesota Dental School and graduated in the top of her class. She earned the Minnesota Association of Orthodontic Achievement Award and several academic achievement awards. She entered her orthodontic residency at the University of Minnesota and earned a certificate in orthodontics and a Master of Science degree.

Dr. Eisenhuth is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.

She takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis, and their surrounding regions, including Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Apple Valley and Eagan, Minnesota.

© 2009 Sinai Orthodontic Marketing and Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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