Going into the teenage years, it’s common for children to visit the dentist to better understand the progress and growth of their adult teeth. During this routine evaluation, your child may be referred to an oral surgeon if they have impacted canines. If you're unfamiliar with this dental problem, here’s some helpful information to review.

What Are Impacted Canines?

An impacted tooth is unable to erupt from the gum line. This situation is most commonly seen with wisdom teeth and often requires professional teeth extraction.

Canines, or the last of the front teeth known as the cuspid teeth, can become impacted in adolescence, usually due to lack of space for adult teeth to grow in.  

What Dental Problems Can Occur as a Result of Impacted Canines?

When canines become impacted, the dental patient may experience a myriad of issues. Since these teeth are the longest, they’re integral to chewing and establishing a proper bite between the upper and lower jaw.

The gum line can also become raw and irritated as the area is exposed to food debris when chewing. 

What Treatment Options Can an Oral Surgeon Provide?

An oral surgeon’s primary goal is to ensure natural teeth erupt. To rectify impacted canines, your child may need to visit an orthodontist and get braces to make room for the teeth to grow into the gum line.

Once an orthodontist has helped shift the teeth to create enough space, a simple oral surgery will expose the hidden tooth. If the baby tooth is still present, an oral surgeon will extract it as well.

Are you looking for a state-of-the-art dental practice to help rectify your child’s impacted canines? Head to Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska. Led by oral surgeons Dr. William F. Bergeron, Jr. and Dr. Ray Holloway, this modern facility is known for compassionate, personalized dental care that enhances the beauty and functionality of every smile. To schedule a consultation in their office conveniently located in the heart of Anchorage, call today at (907) 561-1430. For more information on their wide range of services, from wisdom teeth extraction and bone grafts to dental implants, visit their website.