For many patients, permanent teeth will not erupt from the gums normally and will essentially be trapped completely, or partially, under the gums. While this is a common issue for wisdom teeth, canine teeth can also become impacted. Unlike wisdom teeth, though, canine teeth should never be removed as they are important for chewing and a proper bite.
If your dentist or orthodontist notices that the canine teeth are not coming in properly by the age of 12 or 13, you may be referred to our office for a surgical exposure consultation. If the canine teeth have not come in properly, your orthodontist will be unable to move the teeth into proper position. It is important to surgically expose the impacted teeth so that your orthodontic treatment can be completed.
