Early Detection Of Canines
Is The Key To Successful Treatment
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a panorex screening x-ray, along with a dental examination, be performed on all dental patients at around the age of seven years to count the teeth and determine if there are problems with eruption of the adult teeth.
If there's not enough space or unusual growth blocking canines from erupting normally, an oral surgeon is usually needed for extraction of over-retained baby teeth and/or adult teeth that are blocking the eruption.
What Does Treatment of Impacted Canines Involve?
If your mouth is overcrowded for any reason, the dentist may recommend extraction of teeth. The extraction will generally be performed under local anesthetic by an oral surgeon. The un-erupted canine will then be exposed by lifting the gum, and guided into place using a special bracket.
In the case of younger patients, an orthodontic brace may be fitted to create a space on the dental arch for the impacted canine. Surgery for impacted canines usually does not require an overnight stay. Pain medication will be prescribed as necessary, and you’ll be given post treatment advice for your recovery.
What Causes Canine Teeth to Become Impacted?
Early and proper examination of the teeth can prevent problems with impacted canines. It is important for your dentist to document the number teeth present when the patient is around 7 years old in order to record the presence or absence of canine teeth.
Seeing your dentist regularly and healthy oral health habits decreases the likelihood of an impacted canine tooth and encourages natural canine eruption. If canine teeth are missing or very slow in fully erupting, your dentist or oral surgeon can make recommendations for proper treatment.
Too Many Teeth
If extra teeth are present, the natural eruption of the canine teeth may be prohibited causing impact. The canine teeth may be blocked by an extra tooth or the subsequent overcrowding might leave no room on the dental arch for the canine.
Overcrowding
Poor alignment of the front teeth can lead to overcrowding. The existing teeth compete for space which means the canines do not have sufficient room to work normally.
Unusual Growth
On rare occasions, unusual growths on the soft tissue of the gums can restrict the progress of canine teeth; which leads to impaction.
Symptoms of an Impacted Canine
What to Expect from an Impacted Canine Surgery?
The surgery to expose and bracket an impacted tooth is a very straight forward surgical procedure that is performed at an oral surgeons office. For most patients, it is performed with using laughing gas and local anesthesia. If the patient prefers to be asleep, it will be performed under I.V. sedation.
The procedure is generally scheduled for 75 minutes if one tooth is being exposed and bracketed and 105 minutes if both sides require treatment. If the procedure only requires exposing the tooth with no bracketing, the time required will be shortened by about one half.
Limited Amount of Bleeding
You can expect a limited amount of bleeding from the surgical sites after surgery. Although there will be some discomfort after surgery at the surgical sites, most patients find Tylenol or Advil to be more than adequate to manage any pain they may have.
Swelling
There may be some swelling from holding the lip up to visualize the surgical site. Applying ice packs to the lip for the afternoon after surgery helps.
Temporary Eating Discomfort
A soft, bland diet is recommended at first, but you may resume your normal diet as soon as you feel comfortable chewing. It's advised to avoid sharp food items like crackers and chips as they will irritate the surgical site if they jab the wound during initial healing.
At Rock River Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, we have successfully performed impacted canine extractions in the Rockford, IL area. We are committed to every patient and are happy to help anyone find their perfect smile again. If your dentist has recommended a canine removal procedure, Rock River Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center is here to help!
