How Solace Oral Surgery Treats Impacted Canines

 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.