The canine teeth (eye tooth) are some of the most important teeth in the mouth and act to guide other teeth into position and help you bite and chew food properly. They are usually the last teeth to erupt into the front of the mouth and can be seen around age 13. Children should be screened by an Orthodontist at age 7 to monitor the development of teeth.
By checking at an early age you may be able to avoid extensive surgery down the road. Similar to wisdom teeth, they can become stuck under the gums or bone, “impacted”, if there is not enough room for them to move into the correct position. Teeth can become impacted for many different reasons, including having extra teeth, crowding, or being blocked from coming into the right position.
Because these teeth are so important, your Orthodontist and Oral Surgeon will work together to try and bring these teeth into the right position.
Sometimes it is as easy as removing whatever is blocking them, but other times they need to be moved into the correct position. This is done by placing a small bracket, similar to the one used for braces, that has a chain on it directly onto the impacted tooth. This will allow your Orthodontist to gently direct the tooth into the correct position.
When this procedure is performed at an early age, there is a good chance the tooth can be moved into the correct position. As we get older, our bone becomes harder and the tooth is more difficult to move, which may result in extraction or removing the tooth.
Our surgeons are here to evaluate your unique situation and provide you with a customized treatment plan that brings you closer to a proper bite and healthy, beautiful smile.