Procedures
Impacted Canine Teeth Treatment


Impacted Canine Teeth Treatment

Impacted Canine Teeth Treatment FAQ
Canine teeth are also called “upper eye teeth” or “cuspid teeth.” They are necessary for biting food and aligning the entire jaw.
- Orthodontic treatment: braces can be used to move teeth so that there is space for the canine teeth to emerge.
- Surgical treatment: our Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons may be required to extract teeth to make room. We may extract baby teeth that have remained in the mouth for too long. Or, we may need to extract adult teeth to make room for the canines.
Impacted canine teeth can cause problems with your teeth and gums beyond the canine teeth. Malpositioned canine teeth can resorb or eat away at the roots of the teeth next to it – usually the permanent lateral incisor. If the canine tooth is left untreated, this damage can progress to the point where they are unrestorable and vulnerable to tooth loss. In some cases impacted canine teeth can be due to an abnormal growth such as a tumor or cyst. If left untreated, the impacted teeth and surrounded area can become infected, swollen, and painful. They can also weaken the jaw, prevent normal dental function and place uncomfortable pressure on the surrounding teeth and structures. This is why it is essential to have impacted canine teeth treated.
The amount of time it takes to bring down an impacted canine tooth depends on each patient. Some patients see their impacted canine teeth properly erupt after a few months, while other patients take over a year for the canine teeth to properly come in.
- Overcrowding of the teeth: When your front teeth are overcrowded due to misalignment or other reasons, there may not be enough room for your canine teeth to properly erupt.
- Extra teeth: Some people are born with extra teeth, which can block your canines from erupting.
- A growth on your gums: While cysts and tumors are not very common, they can block your canine teeth from coming in.
