Impacted Canines in Portland OR

What Is An Impacted Canine?

Canine teeth are one of the most common types of teeth to become impacted teeth, just like wisdom teeth. Impaction refers to the state in which a tooth is trapped beneath bone or gum tissue, either partially or fully. When teeth become impacted, they can cause infections and other oral health problems.

Unlike wisdom teeth, however, it is not recommended to remove impacted canines if the teeth would otherwise be healthy. Generally, the smile would be healthier if the canines could be reentered into the smile rather than be absent from the smile.

Treating An Impacted Tooth

Impacted canines have to be exposed so they can safely emerge into the smile. This treatment requires extensive coordination between the oral surgeons at Skyline Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery and your orthodontist.

First, your oral surgeon uses x-rays and 3D imaging to create a plan of action with your orthodontist. If your canines became impacted because the baby tooth never fell out, then a simple tooth extraction may also be performed after the imaging is taken. Then, your orthodontist applies braces to your smile. Once you are ready after having the orthodontic appliance applied, your surgeon performs a minor surgical procedure to reveal the canine from under the gum tissue and bond a bracket to the tooth. The bracket is chained to the braces so that the tooth can be slowly guided into place by the orthodontic appliance.