How Canines become impacted?

The adult canine teeth erupt between ages of 12 to 14. However, they may become impacted, stuck or misaligned during the development phase. This may be due to several reasons:

  • Inadequate jaw size
  • Crowding of teeth
  • Delayed formation
  • Mal-alignment during development phase

If you notice that the primary canines are still in place by age 12 to 14 and not becoming loose, it is possible that the permanent canine is impacted. A clinical and X-ray evaluation by your dentist or orthodontist is necessary.

The orthodontist will often request an oral surgeon to expose the canine to aid them in erupting and aligning the tooth.