If you or your child develops impacted canines, the staff at Atlantic Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Centre can work with you and your orthodontist to find a solution. Our oral surgeons have years of experience treating children and adults with impacted teeth from our office in St. John’s, NL. Canines are crucial for tearing food and guiding the development of nearby teeth, so it’s important to treat impacted canines quickly to prevent cyst formation, infections, and alignment problems.
When teeth do not fully emerge from the gums, they are said to be impacted. Canines (much like wisdom teeth) are more likely than other teeth to become trapped behind the gums during development. Sometimes braces and other orthodontics can clear the growth track and prevent impaction, but in other cases, it is impossible for the canines to grow in without surgical intervention.
What causes impacted canines?
Canines can become impacted for multiple different reasons. The canine teeth usually develop around age 11 or 12. Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time for the adult teeth to develop, causing the teeth to become stuck in the gums. In other cases, there are unusual growths blocking the tooth’s path. A few of the reasons teeth can become impacted include the following:
- Overcrowding of surrounding teeth
- Extra teeth taking up space in the mouth
- Unusual growth blocking the tooth’s growth track
- Baby teeth not falling out in time
How are impacted canines treated?
The treatment process for impacted canine teeth depends on the age of the patient and the reason for the impaction. Early prevention is the best form of treatment. Regular dental visits allow your dentist to check for signs of impacted canines before it is too late. If overcrowding or other contributing factors are discovered early enough (before age 9 or 10), an orthodontist may be able to clear the path for your teeth to grow in without any surgical treatment. Sometimes the extraction of the primary canines is enough to clear the path for the permanent teeth.
If the canines’ roots become too developed, it is less likely that the teeth will come out on their own. In these cases, exposure and bonding treatment may be necessary to prevent the canines from staying permanently stuck in the gums.
Exposure and bonding treatment is a joint effort between an oral surgeon and an orthodontist. Your orthodontist will first clear a path for the tooth to grow in using braces or other devices. Then, your oral surgeon will clear any growths or blockages in the tooth’s path, exposing the tooth. Once the tooth is exposed, a tiny bracket and chain will be attached. Your orthodontist will use this chain to gently pull your canines into alignment. Once the process is complete, your braces will be removed.
If impacted canines are discovered too late for other treatments, your oral surgeon may be able to extract the teeth completely and replace them with dental implants. Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, and they will prevent the dental shifting and bone loss associated with missing teeth.
Impacted Canine Treatment in St. John’s, NL
Atlantic Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Centre in St. John’s, NL, offers impacted canine treatments for children and adults alike. Whether your canines need exposure or another form of treatment, our oral surgeons can help you find a solution to restore your smile. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a consultation.