Impacted Canine
Austin, TX
 The canine teeth, sometimes known as eye teeth or cuspids, are the pointed teeth third over from the center of your smile. A common problem with the canines is one or both becoming impacted, meaning the tooth cannot erupt fully through the gums. An impacted tooth can be disruptive and can become a source of infection.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin, our team reviews the position and condition of your canine teeth and makes recommendations specific to your situation.
Impacted Teeth
A tooth is considered impacted when it fails to extend fully above the gums. A tooth can be partially impacted, meaning some portion has broken through the gum tissue but the rest remains trapped, or fully impacted, meaning it is completely covered. Impacted canines are common, second only to the wisdom teeth. Impaction usually results from a lack of space in the jaw combined with the long developmental period canines take before reaching full occlusion.
Treating an impacted canine helps prevent a number of problems:
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Development of Cysts: A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that can lead to infection.
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Infection in the Jaw: Cysts and infection around an impacted tooth can spread into the jawbone.
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Disruption of Nearby Teeth: An impacted canine, particularly one that is turned or angled, can push adjacent teeth out of position or damage their roots.
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Decay of the Tooth: A partially impacted tooth is at higher risk of decay, since bacteria collect between the gum tissue and the tooth in areas a toothbrush cannot reach. |
An impacted canine does not always require surgery. Treatment is generally recommended when the tooth is causing symptoms, when it threatens neighboring teeth, or when the patient wants the balance and function a properly positioned canine provides. Where the tooth is stable and causing no harm, your dentist or orthodontist can monitor it over time.
Why Canines Matter
Canines are worth the effort to save. They have the longest roots of any tooth, they carry a substantial share of the load when you bite, and they guide the jaw as it moves side to side, protecting the back teeth from wear. They also support the corners of the lip and shape the width of your smile. A missing canine is noticeable in a way that a missing molar is not, which is why exposure and orthodontic guidance is usually preferred to removal.
Surgically Uncover Buried Canines
After examining the tooth and reviewing your 3D imaging, we will present the options available to you.
Uncovered Prior to Orthodontics
This is the most common approach, and in most cases the one we recommend. In a procedure called exposure and bonding, we lift a small amount of gum tissue to uncover the crown of the impacted canine and, where necessary, remove a small amount of bone blocking its path. A bracket attached to a fine gold chain is then bonded directly to the tooth, and the tissue is closed around it with dissolvable sutures. The chain remains accessible so your orthodontist can attach it to your braces.
Once healing is underway, usually within two to three weeks, your orthodontist begins applying light continuous traction through the chain. That gentle force guides the canine along a corrected path into its position in the arch. The tooth moves slowly by design, and the process commonly takes six to eighteen months depending on how deeply the tooth was impacted and how far it has to travel.
The technique varies with the position of the tooth. A canine impacted toward the palate is generally covered again after the bracket is placed, with only the chain left visible. One impacted toward the lip or cheek may be left uncovered so the tooth can erupt through the opening on its own as traction is applied. We determine which is appropriate from your imaging and explain it before treatment.
The procedure is performed under local anesthetic, with sedation available. Most patients return to normal activity within a day or two, keep to soft foods for several days, and describe the discomfort as mild. The chain is visible in the mouth during treatment, but the bracket and chain are removed once the tooth is in position and nothing remains afterward.
Timing matters. Exposure works best while the root is still developing, generally between ages eleven and fourteen, which is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends an evaluation by age seven so an impaction can be identified before it becomes difficult to correct.
Transplantation of the Canine
Where exposure and orthodontic guidance is not workable but sufficient space exists in the arch, we may be able to move the canine surgically into the correct socket and splint it in place while it stabilizes. This is a specialized procedure and not appropriate for every case. We will tell you honestly whether yours is a candidate.
Canine Removed
If the tooth is positioned so that it cannot be uncovered or transplanted, or if its root has already resorbed, removing it can be the healthier long-term option. The resulting space can be closed orthodontically or restored with a dental implant once growth is complete. Occasionally a neighboring tooth is removed instead, to open room for the canine to be brought down. We will discuss this if it applies to you.
Impacted Canine Treatment in Austin, TX
To learn more, call us at (512) 547-6852
, or use our secure online appointment request form to get started with your consultation.
FAQs
How long does it take to bring an impacted canine into position?
Commonly six to eighteen months of orthodontic traction after the exposure procedure. The timeline depends on how deeply the tooth was impacted and how far it has to travel. The movement is deliberately slow, which protects the tooth and the surrounding bone.
Will the gold chain be visible?
A short length of chain is visible in the mouth while the tooth is being guided into place. Both the bracket and the chain are removed once the canine reaches its position, and nothing remains visible afterward.
Is exposure and bonding painful?
The procedure is performed with local anesthetic, and sedation is available. Most patients report mild soreness for a few days and return to normal activity within a day or two. The orthodontic traction that follows produces the same kind of pressure as an adjustment to braces.
What is the best age for this procedure?
Generally between eleven and fourteen, while the root is still developing and the tooth responds well to guided movement. Impaction can be treated in adults, but treatment tends to take longer and the tooth is more likely to have fused to the surrounding bone. |
