IMPACTED CANINES CLUB

[Mik194]

Also for everyone, when do you know when the tooth is actually coming down or moving? Before I couldnt see the end of my chain ( the bracket that is attached to the canine in the gum) but now i can see it clearly right under my gums when I smile.

[Ataerys14]

Many thanks for the responses Siobhan and millersgirl, I realise now that my orthos initial estimate of 5-6 treatment time is fading away quickly, then again I was always prepared that it might be longer
I saw the xray briefly and the ortho examined it closely but wanted to have time to figure out measurements etc so am still not entirely sure on the severity or position. Her call to me today was that we need to discuss options on Tusday

Would appreciate any key questions / information I should ask for at my appointment, I seem to get so nervous I forget what I wanted to ask...am writing a list this time and not moving until I've asked what I need to, until then I will read the posts on this thread in the hope of restoring my PMA

[jenna88]

Had my appointment today and my Ortho has attached a little anchor to the tooth and attached some thick clear elastic with tension (can only just make it out on the picture), next appointment is 6 weeks, hopefully will have some movement by then!

[Mik194]

See my tooth through my gums now! Only took 2 weeks after the surgery:D

[thelittlemermaidd18]

How can you tell if your chain broke? And is it possible for your gum to heal over the chain in certain areas and make it not visible?




[quote="holly0841"]I just had another exposure surgery done last week after my chain broke. The surgeon flapped up the gum and put on the bracket and chain and sutured it. I was afraid the tooth had become ankylosed since it was not moving and caused the bracket and chain to come off. The surgeon did what he could to get it to move and it appears as though it may come in this time. I had both exposed in march and my right canine is completely in now, just gotta get that left going. Good luck, I know what your going through![/quote]

[millersgirl]

Had my xray today and there is movement! My ortho seems quite cautiously optimistic. "Early success does not mean final success." But he said initially my canine was across the midline and now it isn't...so there's that! I'm happy as it really hasn't been activated (with actual pressure) that long. Two full months maybe? Anyway...I'm hopeful!!

[sablequeenie]

Update time: my latest adjustment was this past Thursday! I was given new/more power chains on the top and bottom, and at long last, some elastics to start closing the space between my lateral incisor and impacted canine that was brought down.

My style of elastics are called bald eagle's, and they stretch in a triangle on both sides of my mouth; one end hooked to a molar up top, one hooked to my canines on top and the third corner on the bottom canine teeth. I have to wear them all day, everyday and all night. The first day they hurt like crap, but since I've been taking them out for eating and brushing, my teeth have been getting mini breaks. And slowly, but surely I think the space is closing up.

My orthodontist has me coming back in three weeks to check on the progress the elastics are making, then based on the results will be ready to tell me when the braces can come off; if they do their job he says it'l be end of August/beginning of September, if not then beginning of October. Fingers crossed they get it done fast! I'm soooooo ready to get these braces off, and I want so badly to be on time in my treatment schedule, which would be 24 months.

Wish me luck!

[Siobhan]

I just met with my oral surgeon and have decided to go through with the exposure. I was up in the air about it because of my age (I'm 42 yo). I used this surgeon 13 years ago to get my wisdom teeth out and he was phenomenal. He had four teeth out before I knew what had happened.

He felt the impacted tooth in my gum, took another xray and apparently my tooth is right above the gum line and almost facing straight down. He said it's easily accesssible and he thinks we should give bringing it down a shot. I'm scheduled for May 27 under local anesthia.

I've been stressing about this decision since I got my braces. While there are no guarantees and it remains to be seen whether the tooth actually moves, this feels like the first bit of good news.

Best of luck to everyone going through this.

[catchafallingstar9]

Lucky you Siobhan, I wish I could say the same about mine! I'm 26 and both the surgeon and orthodontist have little hopes of mine coming down so I'll most likely have it extracted in a month or so.

[Siobhan]

Lucky you Siobhan, I wish I could say the same about mine! I'm 26 and both the surgeon and orthodontist have little hopes of mine coming down so I'll most likely have it extracted in a month or so.

Sorry to hear that catchafallingstar. It's good that they have a plan so at least you won't have to go through a long waiting period. No guarantees for me. These impacted canines are the worst. Best of luck to you.

[28andbraced]

I had another appointment yesterday, and we have now begun to pull on my canine--yay! I'm hoping that I'm getting near the end of the hard part of this journey, and that my tooth moves as needed. I'm a little uncomfortable, but at least it is localized and not all over! I got the bad news that my ortho is leaving and I only have one more visit with him before someone else takes over my treatment, which is scary. But we got the hard part done, and it should be easier from here. Good luck to all of you--I hope your treatment is progressing well!

[Nozzelnut]

I had another appointment yesterday, and we have now begun to pull on my canine--yay! I'm hoping that I'm getting near the end of the hard part of this journey, and that my tooth moves as needed. I'm a little uncomfortable, but at least it is localized and not all over! I got the bad news that my ortho is leaving and I only have one more visit with him before someone else takes over my treatment, which is scary. But we got the hard part done, and it should be easier from here. Good luck to all of you--I hope your treatment is progressing well!

Is that a TAD in the middle? What is it designed to do? Just curious.

[alice1987]

Hi everyone! I so am relieved I found this site, I had no idea how common impacted canines were, especially in adults (I'm 26).

I have two impacted canines up top. I got my braces on 20th Feb 2014 and have my exposure and bond surgery scheduled 12th June 2014. My orthodontist is planning to activate the chains the day after surgery, which seems a little soon to me, but I trust him.

My main concern is how long it will take my canines to come through and be attached to my archwire. My ortho has given me a 24 month treatment plan, but from reading the stories on here I now think 24 months is being optimistic!

[Siobhan]

Thanks to everyone for posting on this thread, it's really helpful.

I had my baby tooth removed and a button and chain attached to the adult tooth this morning. It took about 30 minutes and I had local anesthesia. The worst part was the numbing injections.

It's a little uncomfortable and sore but not bad at all. The gap looks horrible and I'm self-conscious about it. Seeing my Ortho tomorrow to activate the chain. The Oral Surgeon thinks she can mask the gap but I think the Ortho is reluctant to do anything that will stop the impacted tooth from coming down.

Will keep posting here. Please let me know if you have questions.

[Mik194]

To those who are scared that it will take forever for the canine to come down- don't worry! I got my surgery in April and my canine tooth is basically down (in about a month and a half). My ortho cut a chain link every visit ( ive only had 2 adjustments!) and I think by june or July it should be attached to the braces. Its different for everyone!