What to Know About Orthodontics and Impacted Canine Teeth, from Hawley Orthodontics

PAPILLION, Neb. - Jan. 30, 2023 - PRLog -- Most people can guess which teeth are the canines — the name gives them away. These teeth resemble dog teeth or fangs with their sharp tips and position at the corners of the arches.

But what if the adult canine teeth don't erupt? Impacted canine teeth are actually the second most common teeth to get stuck under bone or tissue and prevented from erupting.

Dr. Nathan Hawley and the team at Greater Omaha's Hawley Orthodontics have seen their fair share of impacted canine teeth. With Dr. Hawley's expertise in complex cases and multidisciplinary treatment, it's possible to bring out impacted canine teeth and align them with the surrounding teeth.

Why Does a Tooth Become Impacted?

The most common reasons include:

• Not enough room in the jaw
• Lack of space from excessive crowding, extra or misaligned teeth
• Improper timing of primary tooth loss (like losing baby teeth too early or too late)

Why Does An Impacted Tooth Need Treatment?

A canine tooth blocked from erupting affects the appearance of a smile but also may contribute to oral health issues like: damage to the jawbone or adjacent teeth, difficulty chewing, and abnormal wear of existing teeth.

How is an Impacted Tooth Diagnosed?

Since an impacted tooth is hard to see with the naked eye, Dr. Hawley takes digital x-rays of the mouth to reveal what's inside the gums. Like most orthodontic issues, early detection is helpful, so seeing an orthodontist by age seven (https://www3.aaoinfo.org/blog/when-should-your-child-see-...) is recommended.

What Does Orthodontic Treatment for Impacted Canine Teeth Look Like?

With an early diagnosis in childhood, Dr. Hawley (https://www.hawleyorthodontics.com/meet-the-doctor/) might recommend interceptive treatment. A dentist or oral surgeon might extract the primary tooth to help clear the path for the impacted adult canine to erupt. If there still isn't enough room for the canine to erupt, braces make space for the canine.

Sometimes the impacted canine needs help appearing. First, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs impacted canine surgery to move the gum and/or bone and expose the impacted canine. The surgery is quick and uses only local anesthetics. Next, the surgeon bonds a braces bracket and tiny chain to the tooth. Dr. Hawley then applies light force to the chain to help the tooth erupt and gradually guide it into place.

About Hawley Orthodontics

A family-friendly, Omaha-area orthodontic practice, Hawley Orthodontics (https://www.hawleyorthodontics.com) has transformed thousands of smiles, including more complex cases involving impacted canines.

With braces and Invisalign®, Dr. Nathan Hawley and his Papillion, NE team do everything possible to ensure comfort and convenience — from genuine, welcoming smiles and individualized treatment plans to utilizing the latest orthodontic technology for efficient care — so that patients walk in the door with a smile and leave with one, too.