What does ‘impacted’ mean?

This means that your tooth has been prevented from coming through correctly by bone, fibrous tissue or another tooth. Upper canine teeth are some of the last to come through and therefore have more potential to become impacted and fail to reach their correct position within the upper jaw.

How common are impacted canines?

About 2% of the population have an impacted upper canine, usually affecting one side only. Most of these impact towards the roof of the mouth (the ‘palate’) but some impact towards the cheek.

Why does it happen?

A variety of factors can reduce the space available for a canine to come through, contributing to it becoming impacted. Commonly, there may already be a degree of teeth crowding in the upper jaw due to a shortage of space. In some cases, there is a family history of canines being impacted.

What happens if it is left untreated?

If the canine is left in its impacted position, a cystic lesion can develop around the crown of the tooth, which can become infected and can also cause damage by putting pressure on the roots of adjacent teeth.

Treatment for an impacted canine is usually part of a course of orthodontic therapy and so you should seek the advice of your orthodontist regarding your particular circumstances.

Impacted Upper Canines

Radiographic images of impacted upper canines indicating possible areas of cystic development and root resorption of adjacent teeth.