When a tooth is said to be impacted, that means that it can’t fully erupt from the gums because of the angle of eruption or other structures impeding its path of eruption. At South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery we are well versed in what it takes to treat all variety of tooth extractions. Our goal is to keep you comfortable and provide you with a procedure that will give you the best possible outcome for your oral health.
Why Canines Are Important
The maxillary cuspid (AKA upper eyetooth/canine) is a very important tooth and usually one of the last of the front teeth to erupt. Usually the adult upper eyeteeth come in around early adolescence and play an integral role in your bite. Because they are so long, they help to guide the bottom arch of teeth into the proper resting place when you close your jaws. They are also some of the most powerful biting teeth that you possess.
Early Recognition of Impaction is Critical
When dealing with complicated issues such as predicting teeth impactions, the earlier we know about the issue, the better we can plan to save it. For this reason, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all practices take panoramic X-rays of children of age 7 during routine examinations. Using these highly detailed X-rays we are better able to see if a tooth will have enough room and come in at the correct angle to allow it to be successful. If it looks like there may be a problem, we can begin to plan for how we will deal with the impaction.
The treatment of problems could include orthodontic work and braces. Sometimes children have extra teeth that need to be extracted to help clear the way for the canines. If the path for the tooth is clear and space has been made for a tooth that may have been impacted by the age of 11 or 12 there is a good chance that it will erupt on its own.
How Impacted Canines Can Be treated
We typically work closely with an orthodontist to accomplish a satisfactory resolution to an impacted canine. The idea is we help to clear a path for it in the mouth and guide it into its correct spot in the arch of teeth. Most commonly a space will be made using braces for the tooth.
Once the canine has reached a position where we can get to it surgically we will expose it beneath the gum line and attach a bracket to it. Once it has a bracket it can be guided into the proper position using the surrounding teeth as anchors. This is a straightforward surgical procedure that is very common. Following the surgery, you can expect a small amount of bleeding at the site that shouldn’t last more than an hour or so. Pain is typically minimal and can easily be managed with the help of a painkiller like Advil or Tylenol.
Impacted Canine Teeth San Jose
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