Orthodontics for Impacted Canines

When adult teeth develop, they ideally erupt through the gums without any issue into their place in the dental arch. In some cases, bone or tissue blocks a tooth’s path, causing it to become stuck or impacted. At Braces Omaha, we work with your oral surgeon to treat impacted canine teeth through assisted eruption. If you or your child have an impacted canine tooth, contact our office in Omaha, NE, today for an appointment with our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Stevens. 

What Is an Impacted Tooth?

When permanent teeth become stuck beneath the gums and are unable to erupt, they are considered to be impacted. The impacted tooth can be partially or completely trapped by bone or soft tissue. Wisdom teeth and canine teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth, but incisors, premolars, and molars are all vulnerable. 

When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it is simply removed because wisdom teeth are not essential for oral function. Canine teeth, however, play an important role in your oral health and ability to speak and eat. Every effort is made to save your natural canine teeth and help them successfully erupt into the dental arch. 

A tooth can become impacted for several reasons, such as:

• Overcrowding or presence of additional teeth
• Lack of normal adult teeth
• Abnormal growths

Dr. Stevens treats impacted teeth with a surgical technique called assisted eruption. This technique is used to carefully guide the impacted teeth into their proper positions.

How Does Assisted Eruption Work?

When you visit us for a consultation, we will take 3D images of your mouth and face. These will show us the location of any impacted teeth and help Dr. Stevens create a detailed treatment plan made just for you. The total treatment time can last between 6 months to several years. If there are other orthodontic issues to correct, such as bite problems or misalignment, you may need to wear your braces longer. 

The first step in the process is getting braces, which is completed by your orthodontist. The braces create room for the impacted tooth to move into its correct position. Then, an oral surgeon or periodontist will perform the surgical procedure to expose the trapped tooth. This is done by moving the overlying gum and/or bone tissue that is covering the impacted tooth. 

Your orthodontist will use your braces as the anchoring force that will pull the impacted tooth into place using a small orthodontic bracket and chain bonded to the newly exposed tooth. The chain gently guides the impacted tooth into place as it emerges into the mouth.

When Assisted Eruption Is Necessary

If a canine tooth is impacted, it is rare for it to naturally erupt on its own. Surgical intervention helps the tooth emerge through the gums into its proper place. If an impacted canine tooth is left untreated, it can cause serious oral health issues down the road, including: 

• Jaw pain
• Shifting or crowding of teeth
• Root damage of adjacent teeth
• Tooth loss
• Infection
• Malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth)

Orthodontics for Impacted Canines in Omaha, NE

At Braces Omaha, we work together with your partnering specialists to complete orthodontic treatment using surgical orthodontics such as assisted eruption of impacted teeth. Having an impacted canine treated in a timely manner will ensure the proper function of your teeth and prevent further damage. If you have been told by a general dentist that you or your child have an impacted canine tooth, contact Braces Omaha today to schedule your complimentary consultation.