Impacted Canines in Dallas and the Park Cities Area
The upper canines are the second most common teeth to become impacted behind the wisdom teeth. They are crucial for the alignment of your bite, and if they become impacted, they can cause crowding, bite problems, and aesthetic concerns.
Approximately 2-3% of the population experiences impacted maxillary canines. Canines often fail to erupt properly due to a lack of space, or sometimes because they are blocked by other teeth or abnormal jaw growth.
What are impacted canines?
Impacted canines are upper canine teeth that haven’t erupted into their proper position in the mouth. Instead, they remain stuck in the gum tissue or jawbone, often because of crowding, extra teeth, or misalignment.
Understanding and Treating Impacted Canine Teeth
Canines and wisdom teeth are the most likely teeth to become impacted. While wisdom teeth can be removed without affecting function, canines are critical to the bite, which means they require different solutions.
There are several main causes for impacted canine teeth, including extra teeth, overcrowding, early loss of other teeth, or—rarely—growths on the soft tissues of gums. All of these issues may mean that the canines have insufficient room for growth, which causes impaction.
Treatment for impacted canine teeth depends on which tooth is impacted, the position of impacted tooth in the jawbone, and the degree of impaction. Typical treatments may involve extraction of other teeth to create space for the eruption of the impacted tooth. The most common treatment for impacted canine teeth is called exposure and bracketing, which involves the use of orthodontics and a simple surgical procedure. At Johnson Oral Surgery, any treatment plan will be created based on your individual needs.
Why choose us for your impacted canine treatment
Dr. Johnson believes in a conservative approach and uses minimally invasive techniques. Frequently, expose and bond procedures are minor, with recovery only being a couple of days. Dr. Johnson utilizes the latest CBCT to accurately visualize impacted teeth. Dr. Johnson also uses a Surgitron Ellman unit, which is a minimally invasive instrument that precisely uses radio frequency energy to create small incisions and uncover the impacted tooth. By using an Ellman unit, recovery is improved, and pain is reduced.
Schedule
an Appointment
To schedule an appointment with Johnson Oral Facial Surgery for a consultation on impacted canines in Dallas, TX, call us today at (214) 206-4646 or reach out online for a swift response.
How do you treat impacted canines?
Prevention
Sometimes if the pediatric dentist or orthodontist starts to see the permanent canine “drift” anteriorly, they might recommend prophylactically extracting the baby canine teeth to create space to redirect the eruption pathway.
Expose and Bond
If the canine remains impacted, then your orthodontist might recommend an expose and bond procedure. Dr. Johnson will acquire a CBCT (3d X-ray) to precisely determine the position of the tooth and other important landmarks. Then Dr. Johnson will attach a bracket connected to a small gold chain to the impacted tooth. The other end of this chain is ligated to the patient’s braces. Slowly the orthodontist will “direct” the tooth into its proper position by applying light constant force over the course of a few months.
Extract and Implant
f the tooth is unusually positioned, if the tooth become ankylosed, if there is a “hook” on the root, or if the patient is older in age, sometimes an expose and bond procedure will have limited success. If the tooth is unable to be directed into position, then extraction and dental implant is recommended. Leaving an impacted canine can have the risk of damaging the adjacent tooth roots through resorption or forming a cyst around the unerupted crown. These cases are always easier to manage the earlier the problem is addressed.
Symptoms Of Impacted Canines
Why treating impacted canines is important:
Mitigating Problems
If left untreated, impacted canines can cause crowding, misalignment of other teeth, and damage to surrounding roots. Over time, they can even lead to cysts or infections in the jaw.
Fixing Your Bite and Smile
These teeth are crucial for proper alignment—ignoring them can cause long-term bite issues and affect facial aesthetics.
Better Outcomes
The sooner an impacted canine is addressed, the more options there are for gentle, effective treatment.
Supports Oral Health
Correcting impaction helps protect nearby teeth, stabilizes your bite, and reduces future dental complications.
Usually the Best Option
Because of their importance in function and appearance, impacted canines are typically guided into place rather than removed.
At Johnson Oral Facial Surgery, our board-certified oral-maxillofacial surgeon specializes in impacted canines procedures and can provide you with the highest level of expertise and care.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Impacted Canines in Dallas, TX
What is an impacted canine tooth?
An impacted canine is a tooth that hasn’t erupted properly through the gum line. It often gets stuck in the bone or soft tissue due to lack of space, overcrowding, or other factors.
Why are canines important?
Canines play a key role in your bite. They help guide your other teeth into place when chewing and closing your mouth. Unlike wisdom teeth, they can’t be removed without affecting dental function.
What causes a canine to become impacted?
Impaction can be caused by extra teeth, overcrowding, baby teeth that don’t fall out in time, or even unusual growths in the gums. These block the canine’s path and prevent it from erupting normally.
How are impacted canines treated?
Treatment usually involves a team approach between an oral surgeon and an orthodontist. The most common method is “exposure and bracketing,” where the impacted tooth is uncovered and gently guided into place with braces.
Is surgery always necessary for impacted canines?
Not always—but in many cases, minor surgery is needed to assist the tooth’s eruption. Your treatment plan will depend on the tooth’s position, level of impaction, and your individual needs.
Schedule an Appointment
Contact our Dallas location today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how dental implants can transform your smile.
Call at (214) 206-4646!
