Typically around the age of 12, canine teeth or eye teeth erupt into place. While it is possible for upper canines to emerge in alignment with existing teeth, sometimes they can become impacted or trapped underneath the gums. When an upper canine is impacted or oriented in a way that jeopardizes the roots of other teeth, your Dr. May recommend an expose and bond procedure to bring the tooth into proper position. To expose and bond an impacted canine. Your doctor will work with a surgeon and an orthodontist for the first step. A surgeon numbs the area and uses hand instruments to lift a section of the gum tissue and expose the crown of the underlying tooth. At another appointment, an orthodontist puts braces on the teeth of the upper arch, leaving a space in the braces for the canine tooth to drop down With the tooth exposed, an orthodontic bracket with a small gold chain is bonded to the tooth and temporarily attached to the orthodontic wire. A few days after surgery, the orthodontist det attaches a rubber band to the chain that creates a light eruptive pulling force on the impacted tooth. This force starts the process of slowly guiding the tooth into alignment. Throughout treatment, the orthodontist will intermittently tighten the chain, moving the tooth into optimal position. Treatment time varies based on the position of the tooth, but over time, it steadily moves into a functional and aesthetic position.