Impacted canines: helping a stuck tooth find its place
If your child's orthodontist mentioned an impacted canine, here is the reassuring news: this is a well-understood situation with a well-established team solution — and the goal is usually to save and guide the natural tooth, not remove it.
For parents
What an impacted canine is
The canines (the pointed “eye teeth”) are important teeth — they guide the bite and anchor the smile’s shape. They are also among the later teeth to come in, and sometimes one runs out of room or takes a wrong path and gets stuck in the bone or gum instead of erupting. That is an impacted canine.
Orthodontists watch for this on routine X-rays, which is why it is often caught before your child feels anything at all. Left alone, an impacted canine can crowd or damage neighboring roots — but identified early, it can usually be guided into its proper place.
The treatment
Exposure and guided eruption
The treatment pairs a minor surgical procedure with your child's orthodontic care.
Imaging & planning
3D imaging locates the tooth precisely; surgeon and orthodontist agree on the plan.
Orthodontic preparation
Braces or appliances create space in the arch for the canine to move into.
Exposure procedure
The surgeon gently uncovers the tooth and typically bonds a small bracket and chain to it.
Guided eruption
Over following visits, the orthodontist uses gentle traction to guide the tooth into place.
Finishing
The canine takes its natural position, and orthodontic treatment continues as planned.
The exposure itself is a routine outpatient procedure with a comfort plan chosen in advance — including sedation options where appropriate. See anesthesia & comfort options. Afterward, expect a few quiet days with soft foods and simple written aftercare; the tooth-guiding phase that follows is gradual and managed at regular orthodontic visits.
Saving the natural tooth, together.
An impacted canine is a well-understood situation with a well-established team solution — and the goal is usually to save and guide the natural tooth, not remove it.
Your orthodontist leads the plan; we handle the precise, image-guided surgical step, with records shared directly between offices so parents never play messenger.
Team care
Your orthodontist and our office, in sync
The orthodontist leads the plan
Timing, spacing, and the path the tooth will follow are orthodontic decisions. Treatment usually starts and ends in their chair.
We handle the surgical step
Precise, image-guided exposure of the tooth and placement of the attachment the orthodontist will use — with records shared directly between offices, so parents never play messenger.
Occasionally, an impacted tooth cannot be saved and other options — including removal and eventual replacement — are discussed openly with you and your orthodontist. You will always know the reasoning behind the recommendation.
Referred by your orthodontist?
Send or bring the referral and records, and we will coordinate the rest — starting with a consultation that answers your questions.