What is an impacted canine?
The canines are the pointed corner teeth, also called eye teeth. They have the longest journey of any tooth, which makes them the teeth most often stuck. An impacted canine is one that stays buried in the gum or jaw bone past the age it should have come through, which is usually around 11 to 13 years for the upper canine. Read more in our guide to impacted teeth.
It often goes unnoticed because there may be no pain. Signs include a baby canine that is still present in the late teens, an adult canine missing from the arch, a bump in the gum above the baby tooth, a neighbouring front tooth that looks crowded or tilted, or a lateral incisor that seems to be moving. Dentists often find it on a routine X-ray.
Why it happens and what can go wrong
Causes include crowding with too little space in the arch, a milk canine that is kept too long, an unusual position of the tooth bud, and sometimes small or peg-shaped neighbouring teeth that fail to guide it. It runs in families.
If left alone, an impacted canine can press on the roots of neighbouring teeth and, in uncommon cases, damage them. It may also cause a cyst, crowding or an unattractive gap. That is why a dentist usually recommends an X-ray in the early teens if a canine has not appeared. A 3D scan may be used to find its exact position; see our guide on cone beam CT.
Impacted canine treatment
If found early, simple steps may help: taking out a retained baby canine, or creating space with braces or a palatal expander, which may allow the adult tooth to move down by itself.
When the tooth is still stuck, the usual approach is a team job, and crowding in the same arch (see crooked teeth) is dealt with at the same time. A surgeon uncovers the tooth under local anaesthetic and a small bracket is attached, then the orthodontist uses braces to guide it into line over months. If the tooth is too badly placed or damaging its neighbours, removal may be advised, and the gap can later be closed or filled with an implant or bridge. The plan depends on the scan, your age and the position of the tooth, so see an orthodontist.
Common questions
Can an impacted canine come through on its own?
Sometimes, if it is found early and space is made. Once it is lying sideways or high in the jaw this is unlikely.
Is an impacted canine painful?
Often not. Some people get swelling or tenderness, and if you have swelling that spreads across the face, fever or trouble swallowing or breathing, get same-day care, and go to a hospital emergency if breathing or swallowing is affected.
Can adults get an impacted canine treated?
Yes, though success in pulling it down is better when younger. In adults, removal and replacement may be discussed.
How long does treatment take?
It varies by position and age, and often runs for many months of braces after the small procedure.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Prices are prevailing Lucknow market ranges. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.