While it’s common for oral surgeons to treat impacted wisdom teeth that don’t have room to grow, other teeth, like the canines, also suffer from this issue. When impacted, a tooth fails to erupt naturally from the gum line and into place. The canines, or the four pointy teeth used for ripping or biting food, become impacted for roughly 2% of the population, typically on the roof of the mouth. If you suffer from impacted canines and you’re delaying a tooth extraction and restoration via dental surgery, here are some issues you should be aware of. 

Issues That Arise From Impacted Canines

1. Smile Gaps

When your canines fail to descend, they result in visible gaps in your smile since these teeth are rather prominent. While some patients retain a baby tooth in this spot, others simply have gaps that disrupt the natural appearance, resulting in lowered self-esteem and issues biting into food properly. 

2. Resorption

An impacted tooth that lives within the gums can be detrimental to neighboring healthy teeth. In this situation, known as resorption, the impacted tooth will begin to eat away at the healthy one. This can cause irreversible damage that requires tooth extraction. Resorption can also cause shifts in your smile and even jaw misalignment. 

3. Pathology

While you may be hesitant to schedule tooth extraction of an impacted canine, oral surgeons highly recommend this procedure sooner rather than later to avoid oral pathology issues. Often, dental patients with impacted canines will develop tumors, cysts, or abnormal growths around the gum tissue where the tooth should have descended. 

Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska, led by oral surgeons Dr. William F. Bergeron, Jr. and Dr. Ray Holloway, have established a stellar reputation throughout Anchorage, AK, and its surrounding areas for providing exemplary care. If you have impacted canines that require tooth extraction and dental implants to restore your smile, call their office today at (907) 561-1430 to schedule an appointment. For more information on the comprehensive dental surgery procedures they specialize in, from wisdom teeth removal to oral pathology, visit their website.