IMPACTED CANINES CLUB

[cheyeaitsxchelsea]

Is surgery necessary? I REALLY dont want this impacted canine surgery. I have pictures of my xrays in my story. Any input or motivation is greatly appreciated!

[CassieB]

I had the surgery Monday to extract the baby tooth and expose the impacted canine, which is in my upper palate. Good news, it wasn't fused to the bone and per the oral surgeon, looks "good to move". Only time will tell.

[Under Construction]

Hello All,
Well, it appears I was a little ahead of myself in my previous post. Yes, there is a bump where my impacted canine has moved down closer to the roof of my mouth, but progress has stopped. After almost 8 months of pulling with a chain, my orthodontist has decided it's not working and is recommending a "luxation". This thrilling sounding procedure includes reopening the roof of my mouth and jiggling and grinding the impacted tooth in the hopes of dislodging it from its cozy spot in my nice strong bone. Has anyone else had this procedure? I don't want gory details of what's done, but can you tell me if it helped?
The procedure is tomorrow morning. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!
Karen

[Under Construction]

My luxation procedure was yesterday morning, and let me tell you it was no picnic. It turns out that my canine is pretty secure where it sits. It took quite a bit of coaxing to get even the smallest movement from the surgeon. After the procedure we talked and he told me he's not very hopeful that the tooth will come down. I'm very disappointed about that. I've basically wasted almost nine months so far, gone through two pretty uncomfortable surgeries and the cost of the surgeries and now to be told it might not work at all. It's very sad. I may end up with an implant in the end.

[ngarner0717]

So I got my 1st chain on february of 2009. I have gone through 3 chains that have broken off my tooth. My ortho office brought in a new ortho and yesterday I was in for my tightening on my 4th chain that got put on October of 2009. Well yesterday when he was getting ready to tighten it I felt a good deal of pain and next thing I know he is sticking gauze in my mouth and said the bracket and chain came off. I don't know what to do. I'm seeing another Oral Surgeon on the 17th. The last oral surgeon charged me each time for the first 3 chains then the 4th one he just charged my insurance company their portion to pay. I'm so upset to have to pay a new oral surgeon for another chain. And I'm wondering if this damn tooth is even coming down. I assume it is but Its been a year and $1600 dollars later in expose and bond surgeries. Has anyone gone through multiple surgeries and still had their canine errupt in the right position?

[Under Construction]

Ngarner, I'm wondering the same thing.
I went in on Tuesday for my latest adjustment. My ortho looked at the area where my canine is chained and said he doesn't see any movement. He tightened everything and rescheduled me for five weeks from now, but mentioned that if he doesn't see any movement at my next appointment we should move on to Plan B. I said, "What is Plan B?". His reply..."I don't know yet." Lovely. So I will have waited to see movement for ten months, holding up progress in all other areas, with no result. What do you suppose is next? An implant? Uggh.

[ngarner0717]

Yes unfortunately an implant would probably be the next plan. I went yesterday and met with a new oral surgeon and got my chain put back on for the 5th time lol. He luxated the tooth and stated that it is moving and not ankylose. He also stated that if I don't get this tooth down I will need to get a bone graft done for an implant . I'm hoping this tooth will finally get it together and come down. If not I will be looking at getting a flipper until I can afford a implant.

[Under Construction]

I had my adjustment this morning and my orthodontist has decided to pull my baby canine, the impacted canine and my first bicuspid (on the opposite side for balance) and then close the gaps, moving the first bicuspid on the right side to where the canine would have been. (I hope that makes sense!) Has anyone else had this done or heard of this?

[LuckyLola]

Oh no, I thought there was movement? I finally get my lingual braces tomorrow. It has taken a few months for the ortho to receive them... new impressions had to be made.

Just curious, what are the chances of moving the impacted canine at age 40? I don't want to get my hopes up. My ortho told me we will be able to move it in to place but I'm hesitant. I hope he wouldn't mislead me.

[Under Construction]

Yes, I thought there was and my orthodontist kept assuring me of that as well. However, I think that what I was perceiving as movement in the impacted tooth was actually just shifting of the other teeth that the TPA was anchored to. Ah well, moving on. Lola, I think I am truly in the minority. Don't give up hope! I've certainly read more success stories than not.

[fluffybottom]

Lola! I had an impacted canine waaaaaay up in the roof of my mouth and I had it exposed when I was 36. The dentist, oral surgeon and ortho were all very skeptical about it being able to come down; they figured it was fused to the bone. Well, it took over a year but it made it down!

[Bracedmom32]

I too am a member of the Impacted Club...I've been braced for almost 4 weeks...my ortho said that 4-6 months into treatment I will need to have two baby teeth extracted and have the canines exposed. I am completely dreading it and am hoping to find an oral surgeon that will know me out for the procedure....I almost wish I could do it now just to get it over with...I'm 32 so I am hoping age won't be an issue in their movement....I am happy that my ortho said she could place spacers in the gap sites a week after they are removed...

thanks for sharing your stories...they have been very helpful...i will definitely be keeping my eye on this thread!!

[LuckyLola]

Fluffybottom, that is great news! I am 40. My ortho originally said my age didn't matter and when putting on the braces yesterday he said it's up ortho to know whether it should move or not. My tooth is horizontal behind the baby tooth.
I'm hoping it will still be able to come down. I don't know what the statistics are.

Bracedmom, I think you should be fine. From what I read, over 40 is when there is a higher chance the tooth is fused to the bone.

[LuckyLola]

he said it's up ortho...

I meant to say that he said it is up to the oral surgeon. Sorry.

[boxing3]

Count me in.

I had exposure surgery on November 15th of last year and my canines are barely starting to pop out. I'm so excited.