Impacted Canines
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our skilled surgeons use advanced techniques to efficiently perform impacted canine surgery. This procedure improves dental function, positioning your canines for a healthier, more confident smile.
How Impacted Teeth Can Affect Your Oral Health
A tooth is impacted when it cannot come into the dental arch. An impacted tooth may be partially or entirely stuck beneath the gums. Any tooth can be impacted, but wisdom and canine teeth are the most commonly affected. Typically, wisdom teeth are removed regardless of impaction, canine teeth are essential for proper bite alignment and function. An oral surgeon and orthodontist will work together to properly help an impacted canine come into the mouth.
Reasons for Impaction
Dental crowding is the most common reason for impaction: when there are too many teeth in one area of the mouth, a new tooth cannot erupt into its proper position. Sometimes, a growth or tumor may block a new tooth’s path.
An impacted tooth is easily diagnosable with an X-ray or 3D imaging. It is typically discovered at a dental visit, and your dentist can refer you to an oral surgeon for further treatment.
Impaction may or may not have noticeable symptoms, but signs include:
- Red or swollen gums
- Tenderness around the tooth site
- Bad breath
- Jaw pain
Meet Our Specialists
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our expert surgeons deliver top-notch care to enhance every patient’s health and well-being while ensuring an exceptional patient experience. Whether you need treatment for a single impacted canine or a more comprehensive solution, we offer personalized treatment plans designed specifically for you.
Impacted Tooth Treatment: Exposure & Bonding
Exposure and bonding is a treatment that involves skilled coordination between an oral surgeon and an orthodontist. First, an orthodontist will prepare the mouth with braces to create a space for the impacted tooth to come in. Once the space is ready, an oral surgeon will expose the tooth and bond an orthodontic bracket to it. The bracket will have a small chain attached that the orthodontist will use to guide the tooth into place as it grows in. Anesthesia keeps patients comfortable during the surgical procedure. The type of anesthesia used, as well as specific details of the procedure, will be discussed during the consultation appointment. Oral surgeons receive specialized training to administer anesthesia safely.
Comfort and Recovery After Your Treatment
You may experience some bleeding, swelling, discomfort, and soreness following surgery. While your surgeon will provide you with a more definitive list of postoperative instructions, you will likely need to:
- Keep gauze on the treated site until it stops bleeding
- Avoid vigorous mouth washing
- Avoid touching the treated site
- Take your prescribed pain medication to alleviate any discomfort
- Use ice packs to reduce swelling
- Avoid using a straw
- Keep the mouth clean
Additionally, our team will provide instructions on what you should eat and drink. Generally, for two to three days after your procedure, eating softer foods and avoiding very hot, crunchy, or complex food and any food that may get stuck in the surgical site is best.
Your surgeon’s list of postoperative instructions is crucial for preventing unnecessary complications, so we urge you to follow them carefully. If you have any further questions, consult with your doctor.
We're Here for You
If you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or functionality issues with your canine tooth as it grows into adulthood, contact our team at Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery. Our experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in optimizing dental health through personalized impacted canine treatment. Contact one of our many oral surgery locations to get started today.
