IMPACTED CANINES CLUB

[EmBee]

Wow, I never realized how common it was for canine teeth to be impacted! People are always mystified when I tell them I still have a baby tooth at the age of 23, and nobody else I've known has had the same problem. Always reassuring to read about other people who have been in the same shoes :)

[sablequeenie]

Sensitivity in the space where your tooth is set to come down is VERY normal. When I first got links on my chain taken off, my space was sensitive and a little sore, then a few months later when they bracketed my canine the tooth and the space just plain hurt like Hell, even just from exposure to air and cold things. All completely normal. It's just nerves and parts of your gum/tooth being exposed and touched that haven't been before. No worries. My orthodontist recommended coating the places that feel the most sensitive/painful with toothpaste, preferably Sensodyne, or if you're like me and have prescription strength toothpaste, Prevident 5000 and that should ease the symptoms a bit.

Update on my own story: my latest adjustment was this past Monday. My silver bracket that they used to bring my exposed canine down was removed (OUCH, as when they took off my chain anchor, it hurt like a beeyatch. If that's what they have to do to every tooth when I finally get debraced I am not looking forward to that). They did put a clear bracket on the canine, so now all of my uppers match, but when they replaced my wire, they decided not to thread it through the canine's bracket just yet, because my ortho says he needs to pull the tooth back with an elastic tie they attached to the adjacent premolar, then at my next appointment 'do a rotation' because the tooth still needs to be turned about 180 degrees. Anyone know what this procedure is? He called it a 'fun appointment', and since my ortho has a rather dry wit, I'm guessing it's not going to feel nice, but at the same time I'm ready to get this canine fully braced and aligned so whatever we have to do, we'll do.

Looking down at my signature reminds me that in a few weeks, I'l have been braced for a year now. Boy, time flies. Half-way there!

[allmimsy]

Well, add me to the club! I just got braced last week, and I have an appointment with an oral surgeon in January. Both of my upper canines are baby teeth, but fortunately one of the permanent teeth erupted and is pretty much behind the corresponding baby tooth. The one on the other side is impacted, though. I'm very much dreading walking around with gaps in my mouth once they take out the baby teeth, but the sooner they do it the sooner they'll be able to bring the big boys into position! I wish my appointment with my oral surgeon were today instead of next year!

[Siobhan]

Count me in. I'm 42, have been in braces for 2 months with a 18 month expected duration. I have an impacted canine that appears to be in a good position to bring down, right above the baby tooth. My ortho said they will do the exposure surgery in 8 months once there's room to bring down the tooth. She warned me there's a possibility it won't come down, though.

Reading this blog makes me realize both the likelihood of bringing down the canine at my advanced (!) age and the 18 month sentence are optimistic. That said, I appreciate all the information I find here.

[roro]

Hi, been reading this thread as a guest for the passing month (that's when I got my braces). I'm 31, one impacted canine on my right side. I just now am getting used to the braces being inside my mouth. Thank you all for sharing, its much better going through this process with others. The aesthetic aspect concerns me quite a bit, sometimes the braces feel so age incongruent and I just want to go hide somewhere. Does anybody know if it is possible to pull the impacted tooth with lingual braces ? (I've heard that lingual braces slow down the process) And are the chain and missing gap visible when you smile?
Thanks and good luck to us all

[Siobhan]

Hi, been reading this thread as a guest for the passing month (that's when I got my braces). I'm 31, one impacted canine on my right side. I just now am getting used to the braces being inside my mouth. Thank you all for sharing, its much better going through this process with others. The aesthetic aspect concerns me quite a bit, sometimes the braces feel so age incongruent and I just want to go hide somewhere. Does anybody know if it is possible to pull the impacted tooth with lingual braces ? (I've heard that lingual braces slow down the process) And are the chain and missing gap visible when you smile?
Thanks and good luck to us all

Hi Roro,

Lingual braces were an option for me so it's definitely possible. I don't know about the aesthetics but I'm sure it's not bad and think how good it'll look when you're done. Best of luck!

[jenna88]

Hello everyone. I am new on here and have enjoyed reading people's progress stories etc. I have posted on a section elsewhere on the forum and today found the impacted canines thread. Wow, i am so glad I found this, I was starting to feel like I was the only one with an impacted canine! I am 25 and from the UK and was never offered braces from my regular dentist as a child.

My story so far...I have had my initial consultation, x-rays and impressions taken etc. My report says mild upper arch crowding, moderate lower arch crowding, deep and complete overbite, and I still have my URC baby tooth with adult UR3 impacted. After discussing the issues regarding my baby tooth my orthodontist explained 4 options:

1. Do nothing - accept the failure of the URC and the risk of UR3 moving and causing damage to the neighbouring roots.
2. Extract the URC and restore - bridge/denture.
3. Extract the URC and UR3 and restore - bridge/denture/implant.
4. Extract the URC and align/expose the UR3 with fixed appliances.

Having spoke to my orthodontist I have opted for option 4 of having the baby tooth extracted, adult UR3 exposed and pulled down into place etc etc. I have been told that this could be a lengthy procedure but I would rather carry out a longer treatment and have all my teeth in the correct place

I have an appointment coming up at the end of January with the surgeon to discuss the exposure surgery and then I have a couple of appointments following that to organise my quad helix expander, this will be fitted first for a couple of months as I have an overbite, then the juicy stuff will start to happen .

I am really excited about my treatment and cant wait to get it under way!

I will look forward to reading about newbies stories and those of you who are mid treatment / ending treatment. It's great to know that i'm not the only one going through it!

If anyone wants to see pictures of my teeth / x-ray I am more than happy to upload some pics if you guys are interested?

Take care everyone, speak soon.

[Siobhan]

Hello everyone. I am new on here and have enjoyed reading people's progress stories etc. I have posted on a section elsewhere on the forum and today found the impacted canines thread. Wow, i am so glad I found this, I was starting to feel like I was the only one with an impacted canine! I am 25 and from the UK and was never offered braces from my regular dentist as a child.

My story so far...I have had my initial consultation, x-rays and impressions taken etc. My report says mild upper arch crowding, moderate lower arch crowding, deep and complete overbite, and I still have my URC baby tooth with adult UR3 impacted. After discussing the issues regarding my baby tooth my orthodontist explained 4 options:

1. Do nothing - accept the failure of the URC and the risk of UR3 moving and causing damage to the neighbouring roots.
2. Extract the URC and restore - bridge/denture.
3. Extract the URC and UR3 and restore - bridge/denture/implant.
4. Extract the URC and align/expose the UR3 with fixed appliances.

Having spoke to my orthodontist I have opted for option 4 of having the baby tooth extracted, adult UR3 exposed and pulled down into place etc etc. I have been told that this could be a lengthy procedure but I would rather carry out a longer treatment and have all my teeth in the correct place

I have an appointment coming up at the end of January with the surgeon to discuss the exposure surgery and then I have a couple of appointments following that to organise my quad helix expander, this will be fitted first for a couple of months as I have an overbite, then the juicy stuff will start to happen .

I am really excited about my treatment and cant wait to get it under way!

I will look forward to reading about newbies stories and those of you who are mid treatment / ending treatment. It's great to know that i'm not the only one going through it!

If anyone wants to see pictures of my teeth / x-ray I am more than happy to upload some pics if you guys are interested?

Take care everyone, speak soon.

Jenna88, sounds like a good decision to me. It's good that you're taking care of it now - the earlier you deal with the impacted tooth, the greater the likelihood of success. Plus, you'll be done and will have a great smile. I wish I'd taken care of my tooth earlier. Best of luck to you.

[jenna88]

Hi Siobhan, are you currently mid treatment for an impacted canine?

[Siobhan]

Jenna88, I'm 5 months in braces to create space. In about 3 months, I'll have the baby tooth removed and exposure surgery on the impacted tooth.

[jenna88]

Jenna88, I'm 5 months in braces to create space. In about 3 months, I'll have the baby tooth removed and exposure surgery on the impacted tooth.

Hi Siobhan, I am having my exposure done on the 21st February I will then have a quad helix expander fitted a few weeks later and then the chain attached to start 'pulling' on that darned tooth! They are leaving the baby tooth in place for now (for cosmetic reasons) and then will remove the baby when my adult is ready to come into its position. Not sure when i will actually get my grills on!
I have attached some pics for you

[Siobhan]

Jenna88, your teeth are going to look great - they're a good shape and so white!

Here's my pic with the grill. Not sure how they'll get the space for the adult tooth but fingers crossed.

[jenna88]

Jenna88, your teeth are going to look great - they're a good shape and so white!

Here's my pic with the grill. Not sure how they'll get the space for the adult tooth but fingers crossed.

Hi Siobhan, have you seen much movement since you got your grills on he he? I will be having a ceramic upper and a metal lower

[jenna88]

Because I am excited I have made a countdown ticker to my surgery date!

[Siobhan]

Jenna88, your teeth are going to look great - they're a good shape and so white!

Here's my pic with the grill. Not sure how they'll get the space for the adult tooth but fingers crossed.

Hi Siobhan, have you seen much movement since you got your grills on he he? I will be having a ceramic upper and a metal lower

Hi Jenna,

I've seen a fair bit of movement although some of it's pretty subtle. Initially, I just noticed more space in the back teeth when flossing but now a lot of the teeth are rotating or straightening out. My bite is also becoming much more level, although still a ways to go there. I'm very happy with the ceramic uppers and would have been fine with metal lowers. Still can't wait to be done with the whole process, though