Impacted Canines

The canines or “eye teeth” (sometimes referred to as cuspids) are the last of the “front” teeth to erupt into place. They usually come into place between age 11 and age 13. In some cases, these teeth may not have enough room to fully enter the mouth. When this happens, the teeth are referred to as impacted, or stuck.

Early Recognition Of Impacted Eyeteeth Is The Key To Successful Treatment

Canines are necessary for both cosmetics and chewing. Therefore it is important to recognize early on if there is a potential problem with their eruption. Upper canines are the ones most frequently impacted, although lowers may be as well. Since the deciduous “baby” canine looks very much like the permanent one, a dentist or orthodontist should take the necessary x-rays in the pre teen years to assure that these teeth will have enough room to erupt. In most instances these teeth will come through on their own. In those cases where a problem does exist, early recognition will allow for space management to take place before the deciduous molar teeth are lost. Despite this, there are some situations where the canine is unfavorably angled and cannot erupt without assistance. In these instances it is necessary for an orthodontist to guide the tooth into position using some sort of bracket or “brace”.

Attaching A Bracket To An Impacted Tooth?

Brackets or braces are almost always attached to teeth by means of bonding these days. This involves the preparation and drying of the tooth surface and the application of a bonding agent or “glue.” Since impacted teeth are not yet in the mouth, they must first be located before the bond can be applied. This is the job of the oral surgeon. The procedure is referred to as exposure and bonding.

As with all our procedures, this may be accomplished painlessly with a variety of anesthetic choices. These include local anesthesia, nitrous oxide/oxygen gas and intravenous sedation. A pretreatment consult is necessary prior to this procedure and the choice of anesthetic may be discussed at that time. At this consult a review of the x-rays and examination of the patient will offer clues as to the location of the impacted tooth.

At the time of treatment, the appropriate anesthetic will be used and the tooth located. A bracket, often linked to a small gold chain is bonded to the surface of the tooth. This may be attached to other braces which are already on the erupted teeth. After a short time, the patient may return to the orthodontist to have the tooth guided into position. The time that it takes for this to happen will vary according to the location of the impacted tooth and the amount of available space.

If you need to schedule an appointment for a consult regarding an impacted canine please call AOMS at (973) 376-1144