Help Impacted Teeth Erupt and Function Properly
Canine teeth play an important role in your oral health and function. If a canine tooth is impacted, or stuck beneath the gums, our oral surgeons can expose the tooth so that your orthodontist can guide it into place using braces. Expose and bond is a safe and effective way to manage impacted canine teeth and ensure your smile is healthy and that your teeth function properly.
At Premier Center for Oral, Dental Implant & Facial Surgery, we work closely with your orthodontist throughout the process of treating an impacted canine tooth. If you have been referred by your dental provider or believe you or your child may need treatment for impacted teeth, contact our office for a consultation with our board-certified oral surgeons. Dr. Garibyan and Dr. Kuang will examine your oral health and determine the right course of action with your safety and comfort in mind.
What is an Impacted Canine Tooth?
There are four canine teeth; two on the upper arch and two on the lower arch on either side of the front four teeth. Canines have the longest roots of any human teeth and are designed to be the first teeth that touch when your jaws close together, guiding the rest of your teeth into a proper bite.
An impacted tooth means that it is trapped beneath the gums and is unable to successfully erupt into the dental arch. Wisdom teeth and canine teeth are the most common teeth to become impacted. Whereas a wisdom tooth is simply extracted because it is unnecessary for oral function, every effort is made to save a canine tooth.
Causes of Impacted Canines
A canine tooth may become impacted for several reasons:
By using 3D scans, we can view the bones and soft tissues of your mouth to determine the cause of impaction. The sooner an impacted canine tooth is treated, the better the outcome. Impacted teeth are often noticed in children at regular dental appointments. This is why it’s important for you and your child to see your dentist regularly. If a problem, such as an impacted tooth, is detected, we can begin treatment right away. The older a patient gets, the less likely it is for an impacted canine tooth to erupt on its own.
Expose and Bond Procedure
When you meet Dr. Garibyan and Dr. Kuang during the consultation, we will examine your teeth and design your custom treatment plan. This will involve taking 3D scans of your mouth and face and talking about your anesthesia options for surgery. For most patients, IV sedation is used with an expose and bond procedure.
Treatment for an impacted canine tooth begins with orthodontics. You will wear braces to align your teeth and make room for the canine tooth to erupt. When enough space is created and you are ready for surgery, your surgeon will make an incision in the gum tissue to access the impacted tooth. He or she will attach a bracket to the tooth, which has a chain attached. This chain is attached to your braces and gradually pulls the tooth into its proper position.
Replacing a Canine Tooth With a Dental Implant
Although we make every effort to save your natural tooth, some oral health conditions may make it difficult to help the tooth erupt and function successfully. If the tooth is decayed, badly infected, or cannot be guided into the dental arch, we can extract the tooth and replace it with a natural-looking dental implant.
Dental implants look and feel just like healthy adult teeth. The implant post acts as a tooth root and prevents jaw bone loss while fully restoring function to the tooth. If expose and bond is not an option for you or your child, we will discuss tooth replacement options during your first visit. It is our goal to ensure you have a complete and healthy smile that you can be proud of, and we offer many types of dental implants if replacing a canine tooth is necessary.
Do You Have Questions For Us?
Schedule your consultation to learn how our surgeons can best serve you.
Surgical Uprighting Second Molars
When permanent teeth develop, sometimes the adult second molars become impacted, often because they are stuck under the first molars. The presence of wisdom teeth may also block eruption for second molars. Although wisdom teeth are unnecessary extra teeth, your first and second molars are important because they grind and chew food. If a second molar is impacted, our surgeons can help it erupt properly through surgery.
This procedure is often diagnosed and performed during childhood, and the child will need braces first to create space for the molars. During the procedure after anesthesia is administered, your surgeon will make an incision in the gum and remove any developing wisdom teeth. We will contour the bone around the second molar and elevate the impacted tooth. Bone grafting may be necessary to strengthen the jaw bone. After surgery, your orthodontist will use braces to align the now-erupted molar into place.
Impacted Canine Treatment in Massachusetts
Contact Premier Center for Oral, Dental Implant & Facial Surgery today if you or your child have an impacted canine tooth. We will examine your oral health and create a treatment plan specific to your needs. Dr. Garibyan and Dr. Kuang collaborate seamlessly with your orthodontist and other healthcare providers to ensure predictable results and a smooth treatment process for you and your family. Schedule your appointment online or call (978) 708-0080 today.
