How Solace Oral Surgery Treats Impacted Canines
An
impacted tooth can cause some of the most pain of any tooth-related issue. This
is especially true for your four canines or eyeteeth, because they’re
positioned directly below your eyes. This can cause tremendous pain and
pressure and may also lead to severe headaches and other problems.
Canines
are usually the last of the permanent teeth to erupt. This often happens around
age 13, but an impacted tooth can impede the process. An impacted canine is
blocked or unable to fully erupt because parts of them are stuck. Canines that
remain impacted or don’t fully erupt can cause several problems for a dental
patient. The patient may have gaps in his or her teeth, struggle to bite down
properly, or have teeth out of alignment.
How Did My Canine Become Impacted?
Upper
canines in particular are the second most common teeth to become impacted. This
often happens because of overcrowding or extra teeth, including baby teeth.
Parents, be vigilant if your child began losing baby teeth later than most
peers, or if he or she has a small mouth. Some patients’ canines also become
impacted because of growths on the gum tissue. This is rare, but if you see a
growth or your child’s gums are bleeding, schedule an appointment with one of
our dentists.
Some
canine teeth are very slow to erupt, and some children grow up with missing
canines. Your regular dentist should document the number of teeth present when
your child is about 7 so you can prepare for treatment if necessary. If your
child has missing canines or they’re slow to erupt, the staff at Solace Oral
Surgery can help.
How Are Impacted Canines Treated?
Dentists
usually recommend tooth extraction. During this procedure, we don’t extract the canines themselves.
Rather, we extract any extraneous teeth causing overcrowding or slow eruptions.
Your child will be given X-rays before extractions. Extractions are done using
gentle local anesthesia; we offer oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, and
nitrous oxide. If your child is especially anxious about the procedure, ask our
dentists if he or she would benefit from moderate or deep sedation.
After
extraneous teeth are removed, the canine is guided into place using a bracket.
In some cases, we use orthodontic arches to facilitate this. You’ll be sent
home with proper pain medication and instructions on caring for the extraction
site. If there are complications, contact us immediately. Reach out to us online or
by phone for more information.
