Impacted Canines South Bend, IN
If your dentist or orthodontist mentioned an impacted canine, you are in the right place. At South Bend Oral Surgery, our team works with you and your child’s orthodontist to uncover hidden teeth and guide them into the smile where they belong.
What Are Impacted Canines?
An impacted tooth is a permanent tooth that is stuck beneath the gum line or jawbone and cannot erupt on its own. Canines are the pointed teeth on either side of your front four teeth, and they play a key role in how your bite comes together.
Canines typically appear around age 13. If they have not come in by then, that is a sign your child may need an evaluation. Unlike wisdom teeth, canines cannot simply be removed. They are too important for biting, chewing, and long-term jaw alignment.
Why Canines Become Impacted
There is no single cause. Several factors can prevent a canine from erupting on its own:
- Too little space in the arch due to crowding
- An extra tooth blocking the eruption path
- A baby tooth that stayed in too long
- The canine developing at an unusual angle
- Soft tissue, a cyst, or another barrier in the way
In many cases, early orthodontic screening can spot a problem before it becomes more complex.
How Impacted Canines Are Treated: Expose and Bond
The most common treatment for an impacted canine is the expose and bond procedure. It is a coordinated process between our oral surgery team and your orthodontist. The goal is always to save the tooth and bring it into proper position. Here is how it works:
- Your orthodontist places braces to open up space in the arch for the tooth to move into.
- Our oral surgeon makes a small incision to expose the hidden canine. A small bracket and chain are bonded directly to the tooth.
- You return to your orthodontist, who uses the chain to gently guide the tooth into its correct position over several months.
The procedure is performed in our office. Anesthesia options will be discussed with you at your consultation so you feel prepared and comfortable before the day of your procedure.
Why Treat Impacted Canines Early?
Timing matters. The longer a canine stays trapped, the more the roots can develop and potentially fuse to the jawbone, which makes treatment more difficult. Leaving an impacted canine untreated can also cause other problems:
- Crowding in neighboring teeth
- Cyst formation around the impacted tooth
- Damage to the roots of adjacent teeth
Early detection, ideally around age 7 during a routine orthodontic screening, gives your child the best chance for a straightforward outcome. In rare cases where the canine cannot be saved and guided into place, dental implants may be an option to restore the space.
Schedule a Consultation in South Bend, IN
If your dentist or orthodontist has referred your child, or you, for an impacted canine evaluation, the team at South Bend Oral Surgery is ready to help. The process is straightforward, and we will walk you through every step from consultation to the final result.
Call us to schedule your consultation or request an appointment online.
South Bend Oral Surgery
926 E. LaSalle Avenue South Bend, IN 46617
Serving South Bend, IN and surrounding communities.
