Impacted Canines

Treat With Exposure & Bonding

Your canine teeth are essential for a well-functioning bite and proper alignment of your teeth. They are the first to make contact when you bite down, helping to guide your other teeth into place. However, there are times when canine teeth become impacted, meaning they don't erupt and function as they should. Without treatment, impacted canines can cause issues like difficulties in chewing, tooth decay, gum disease, and misalignment of adjacent teeth.

Expose and bond procedures are commonly used treatments for addressing impacted canine teeth. At Tuscarawas Oral Surgery and Implant Center, Dr. Taylor has extensive expertise in treating these conditions. We invite you to reach out to our office in New Philadelphia, OH to schedule a consultation.

What Is an Impacted Tooth?

When a tooth is unable to emerge from the gum line and remains trapped, it is considered impacted. Canine teeth, situated towards the front of your mouth, can become impacted, failing to function correctly. These are the second most frequently impacted teeth after wisdom teeth.

Several factors can contribute to a tooth becoming impacted. These may include blockages in the dental arch, overcrowding, or insufficient space for the tooth to emerge properly. Untreated, impacted teeth can result in various issues, including difficulties with eating, tooth decay, gum disease, and potential misalignment of other teeth.

Causes of Impacted Canine Teeth

When an adult canine tooth fails to erupt correctly and gets trapped in the jawbone, it is known as an impacted canine tooth. Various factors can lead to this issue:

• A baby tooth or unusual growth obstructing its path: Sometimes, a baby tooth may remain in place or an abnormal growth might hinder the eruption of the permanent canine tooth.
• Dental overcrowding: Limited space in the dental arch can prevent teeth from aligning properly, which can result in impacted canine teeth.
• Insufficient space in the dental arch: The dental arch may be too small or shaped inadequately to allow the canine teeth to emerge naturally.

Addressing an impacted canine tooth early enhances the likelihood of proper eruption and function. If left untreated, the tooth can become more firmly bonded to the jawbone. Once this fusion occurs, exposure and bonding are no longer feasible, and the only remaining option may be to extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant.

How an Expose and Bond Procedure Works

The exposure and bonding process involves a surgical approach to reveal the impacted tooth. Initially, a small incision is made in the gums to access the tooth, and a bracket with a chain is attached to it. This bracket is then connected to braces to help align the tooth. Over several months, an orthodontist uses this chain to guide the tooth into its proper position within the dental arch.

Effective treatment of impacted canine teeth relies on close collaboration between oral surgeons and orthodontists. It is important to visit your orthodontist within two weeks of the exposure and bracketing to start the alignment process. This combined effort of specialists is essential for achieving successful eruption, function, and appearance of the impacted canines.