Timing Matters

Impacted Canine Exposure (Expose and Bond)

Q: Is exposure the same as removing the tooth?

No. The purpose is to keep the canine. Removal is a fallback only if the tooth cannot be moved.

Q: Who does what — the orthodontist or the oral surgeon?

Your orthodontist creates the space, applies traction and finishes alignment. The oral surgeon uncovers the tooth and bonds the attachment.

Q: Why does the tooth need a gold chain?

Because there is nothing else to grip. The chain gives the orthodontist a handle on a tooth still under the gum.

Q: How long until the canine comes in?

Traction usually begins about a week after surgery, and the tooth reaches its place over roughly a year.

Q: What if the chain falls off?

Call the office. Re-bonding is a short visit and does not undo the progress made.

Q: Can both canines be done at once?

Yes. One appointment means one anesthetic and one recovery, and a retained baby canine is usually removed at the same visit.

Your orthodontist has found a canine that is stuck and will not come in on its own. Expose and bond uncovers it and attaches a chain, so the tooth can be guided into the arch rather than lost.

Request a Consultation Call (949) 204-0775

Age 7

first orthodontic X-ray

< 1 hr

most single-canine exposures

~1 yr

to guide the tooth into place

ABOMS

board certified surgeon

Age 7

first orthodontic X-ray

< 1 hr

most single-canine exposures

~1 yr

to guide the tooth into place

ABOMS

board certified surgeon

How It Works

Expose and bond vs extraction

Expose & bond

Extract & replace

The canine

Kept

Removed

Replacement needed

None

Implant or bridge

Best age

Teens

Any (fallback)

Your natural tooth

Preserved

Lost

A tooth is impacted when it fails to erupt and stays trapped in bone or under the gum. After wisdom teeth, canines are the most commonly impacted teeth — and the upper canine travels the longest path to reach its place.

Exposure is not extraction: the goal is to save the canine. The surgeon uncovers the crown, bonds a small bracket and fine gold chain, and your orthodontist uses the chain to draw the tooth into the arch.

Why It Happens, and Why It Matters

Crowding

No space left in the arch for the canine to come through.

A retained baby canine

The baby tooth stays in place and blocks the path.

Something in the way

Extra (supernumerary) teeth or a cyst obstruct the eruption path.

An unusual eruption path

The tooth angles toward the palate or the cheek instead of the arch.

Risk to the neighbors

A stuck canine can resorb the roots of adjacent teeth — a reason to act early.

Saving the natural tooth

Bringing the canine in beats replacing it with an implant or bridge.

What Happens

Your orthodontist places braces and opens space in the arch for the canine.

The area is numbed and a small flap of gum lifted over the impacted tooth.

Any retained baby canine is removed and just enough bone cleared to uncover the crown.

A bracket with a fine gold chain is bonded to the enamel.

The chain is secured to the arch wire; gentle traction begins about a week later.

What Happens

01Your orthodontist places braces and opens space in the arch for the canine.

02The area is numbed and a small flap of gum lifted over the impacted tooth.

03Any retained baby canine is removed and just enough bone cleared to uncover the crown.

04A bracket with a fine gold chain is bonded to the enamel.

05The chain is secured to the arch wire; gentle traction begins about a week later.

Who This Is For

Children and teenagers with a canine that has not erupted on schedule

An impacted canine seen on an orthodontist’s X-ray

A retained baby canine well past the expected age

Braces already in place or planned

Adults with a long-standing impaction where the tooth is still viable

What Do They Cost?

Typical U.S. and Southern California ranges (published 2026 consumer surveys): surgical exposure runs about $500–$1,500 per canine, with bonding, imaging and sedation itemized separately. A full episode with orthodontics runs $4,000–$12,500 for one canine.

Dental insurance typically covers the exposure and bonding codes at 50 to 80 percent of the allowed amount, since it is functional rather than cosmetic. We provide a written estimate after your consultation.

Recovery

Bleeding is limited and over-the-counter medication is usually enough; most children are back at school the next day. Then the orthodontist walks the canine into place a fraction of a millimeter at a time over about a year — slow on purpose, because fast force damages roots and bone.

Day 1 ice, soft foodDays 2–3 discomfort fades~1 yr orthodontic traction

Aftercare

Ice the cheek the afternoon of surgery

Soft, bland foods for several days

Avoid sharp foods that catch the chain — chips, crackers, crusty bread, nuts

Rinse gently as directed; brush the rest of the mouth normally

Post-operative check at 7 to 10 days

Call Us If

Bleeding that will not stop with steady pressure

A fever

Swelling that worsens after day three

A loose chain

Frequently Asked Questions

Is exposure the same as removing the tooth?

No. The purpose is to keep the canine. Removal is a fallback only if the tooth cannot be moved.

Who does what — the orthodontist or the oral surgeon?

Your orthodontist creates the space, applies traction and finishes alignment. The oral surgeon uncovers the tooth and bonds the attachment.

Why does the tooth need a gold chain?

Because there is nothing else to grip. The chain gives the orthodontist a handle on a tooth still under the gum.

How long until the canine comes in?

Traction usually begins about a week after surgery, and the tooth reaches its place over roughly a year.

What if the chain falls off?

Call the office. Re-bonding is a short visit and does not undo the progress made.

Can both canines be done at once?

Yes. One appointment means one anesthetic and one recovery, and a retained baby canine is usually removed at the same visit.

Become Our Next Success Story

2121 E Coast Hwy, Ste 160, Corona del Mar · Mon–Thu 8–5, Fri 8–2

Request a Consultation Call (949) 204-0775