Impacted Canine Treatment: Expose and Align
Most people have heard of impacted wisdom teeth, even if they don’t fully understand what the condition entails. Impacted canines, on the other hand, are much less likely to be known — despite the canines’ crucial twin roles. The maxillary canines, which are sometimes called the upper eye teeth or maxillary cuspids, are considered “the cornerstone of the dental arch.” They are invaluable for biting and tearing food and assisting with jaw alignment. Unfortunately, only the wisdom teeth are at greater risk for impaction than your upper canines.
Impacted teeth don’t have enough room to correctly erupt. They may not have adequate space to even break through the gum. For wisdom teeth, the simplest way to deal with the problem is extraction, since they perform no vital function anyway. Dealing with impacted canines, however, calls for another approach entirely. Whenever possible, they should be exposed and aligned to support their essential activities. Exposure begins with attaching a bracket to the canine, which may require opening the gum. With the aid of consistency and time, the tooth is eventually pulled out by the bracket and guided into alignment.
Call Campbell Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center today to set a consultation appointment to discuss your impacted canines. A member of our helpful staff will be happy to schedule your visit and address any questions or concerns you may have.
