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Has your child’s dentist informed you that he has an impacted canine? If so, it is essential that you seek treatment from an experienced orthodontist and oral surgeon immediately—your child’s future oral health depends on it. Impacted canines are one of the most common oral health problems. So long as prompt treatment is acquired, the likelihood of lifetime repercussions is minimal. Below are common impacted canine questions to help you better understand the issue and aid in your decision making process. What is an impacted canine? Referring to a canine as impacted is just a fancier way of stating that the tooth is stuck and unable to grow, or erupt, into its appropriate position, which will inhibit function and possibly lead to other oral health complications. What teeth can become impacted? Any canine can become impacted; however, wisdom teeth are the most frequently impacted teeth in our jaws. Due to wisdom teeth lacking any functional need, the most common solution for an impacted third molar is wisdom tooth extraction. After wisdom teeth, the maxillary cuspid, or upper eye tooth, is the second most common canine to become impacted. Proper function of the upper eye tooth is essential for an individual’s oral health, so appropriate eruption is vital. How do physicians determine if a canine tooth has become impacted? Early detection of an impacted canine is crucial to ensuring the proper eruption of all teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, all dental patients should have a panorex screening x-ray at age 7 to determine if a canine has become impacted. How do impacted canines occur? Many factors can influence proper tooth eruption. Common causes of impacted canines include: • Unusual mouth growths • Additional teeth interfering with eruption • Extreme crowding or inadequate space • The jawbone inhibiting eruption How is an impacted canine treated? Once an impacted canine has been detected, your orthodontist will work with an oral surgeon in order to determine the appropriate method of treatment. Occasionally, braces will be applied or baby teeth extracted in order to provide enough room for the impacted canine to erupt properly. However, if the canine is unable to erupt even with an open path ahead of it, oral surgery is required to facilitate eruption. What is the surgical solution to an impacted canine? When the eye tooth fails to naturally erupt, oral surgery is needed. First, braces are applied to the upper arch. Next, an oral surgeon will expose the impacted canine and remove any baby teeth that may be blocking its eruption. Following exposure, the canine is bracketed. Your orthodontist will then use rubber bands to gently pull the tooth into its desired position. What if an adult has an untreated impacted canine? Failure to address an impacted canine in childhood has serious consequences. Generally, the tooth has been fused in position and will refuse to erupt regardless of pressures applied. At this point, the only method for treatment is removing the impacted canine and replacing it with a dental implant. If you or your child is suffering from an impacted canine and you live in the Washington, D.C. or northern Virginia area, please contact NOVA SurgiCare, PC today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hamrah.
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