Impacted Teeth Treatment in Pittsburgh, PA

What Are Impacted Canines?

Canines are the first to touch the rest of your teeth when you close your mouth, guiding your jaw into place. They surround your front teeth and close any space left when they grow into your mouth at around 13 years old. 

However, sometimes these teeth become impacted, meaning they’re unable to erupt through the gum line. Impacted canines are caused by extra teeth blocking their growing path or a natural misalignment. The most commonly impacted canines are on the top arch, but the bottoms can also become impacted.

Symptoms of Impacted Canines

The symptoms of an impacted tooth can include:

• Tender, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Jaw pain
• Misaligned teeth

Diagnosing Impacted Canines

The earlier we can detect impacted canines, the simpler your treatment. Early prevention using x-rays, digital scans, and thorough dental exams allows us to correct any issues in your child’s jaw. We prioritize examining children’s jaws to diagnose impacted teeth before a child’s eighth birthday. 

Canine Exposure Treatments

People who haven’t exposed their canines during childhood are at risk of having the tooth fuse to their jawbone. The earlier we perform a canine exposure treatment, the easier it will be for the tooth to grow naturally into place. 

Treating impacted canines is a routine procedure for our experienced surgeons. To begin, we’ll make a small incision in the gums to expose the impacted tooth so your orthodontist can place a bracket. Once there is room, our patients’ canines will usually shift into the new space. We don’t remove any existing baby teeth from the mouth during this procedure. 

Sometimes, an impacted canine tooth isn’t in a position to suspend into the mouth all the way. In this case, we’ll use braces and oral surgery to help align it and pull it into the proper positioning in your jaw. If there’s a baby tooth underneath, we’ll remove it then. A gold chain, attached to your impacted tooth through minor surgery in the gums, guides the tooth down into place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit Drs. Snyder & Dugan to Expose Impacted Canines

Our experienced dental staff can help you understand your procedures. Their gentle care allows you to relax knowing you’re receiving the high-quality dental surgery you deserve. We’ll expose your child’s canines early in life, so you can feel confident that they won’t suffer from uncomfortable dental problems in the future. 

Schedule an appointment at our Pittsburgh office by calling (412) 366-2090 today!