You might not think about it very much, but the process by which your teeth come in is actually pretty sophisticated. If teeth erupt in the wrong place or at the wrong time, there can be consequences for the whole mouth. And while most people have no serious trouble, something like an impacted tooth is not uncommon.
An impacted tooth is one that, for whatever reason, does not break through the gum. Thus trapped, it can cause cysts and damage to other teeth. Wisdom teeth are the most common tooth to become impacted, due to lack of room in the mouth. The second most common are the canines.
Canines (or eye teeth) are the pointy teeth between your incisors and premolars. If they do not erupt as normal, Drs. Greg Hueler & Dr. Noah Sandler will check to make sure nothing is obstructing the way. X-rays can also be taken to determine its position. In order to expose an impacted canine, a typical treatment will involve removing the gums that cover the tooth. This is often enough to let the tooth grow normally. In some cases, an orthodontic attachment may be necessary. It is bonded to the tooth and applies a gentle force to encourage the tooth to move into position.
Impacted teeth can cause serious problems if left untreated, but if appropriately dealt with, they typically cause no further trouble. If you would like to learn more about impacted canines or wish to make an appointment at Midwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, please call our Savage, Shakopee, and Eden Prairie, MN, office at 952-226-7940.