What Can Happen If I Leave My Impacted Canine Tooth
Your canine teeth are necessary for tearing up food. However, not everyone’s come in the way they should. Issues are seen when there is not proper spacing or when teeth are not in the correct positions beside the incisors. Sometimes, one of these teeth becomes impacted, meaning it can’t erupt completely through the gums. You may contact a dental surgeon in Melbourne to help the tooth erupt, which is the safest option. If you decide to leave your impacted canine tooth, you could experience difficulty in the future.
General Canine Tooth Information
Your canines may not erupt at all or properly if you have overcrowding. The tooth could emerge inside your dental arch. In some cases, the impacted tooth remains in the jaw bone, positioned above the nearby tooth. On the other hand, you could have an impacted canine that’s in front of your dental arch. In addition, it’s more common for your upper canines to become impacted than your lower ones.
An oral surgeon in Melbourne FL, will use methods to shift the tooth into its proper position. Only as a last resort after a dental surgeon exhausts all other options, will he or she recommend extracting the tooth.
Dangers of Ignoring an Impacted Canine Tooth
Generally, problems arise over time with an impacted canine and range in severity. Here are some of the most common issues.
Can Fuse to Bone
If you leave your impacted canine, it could fuse to the nearby bone. At this point, a dentist or oral surgeon will have to extract the tooth.
Can Damage Nearby Teeth
An impacted canine may damage an adjacent tooth. You may be able to repair the damage with dental care, such as restoration. However, this costs money and takes a good amount of time.
On the other hand, sometimes the damage is so extensive that you can’t restore the tooth, or you could lose the tooth completely. In other words, if you leave your impacted canine, you may need to find an expert who performs tooth replacements.
Could Become Infected
You may develop an infection under the gums. As a result, you could experience pain, foul breath, gum tenderness, or an unpleasant taste in your mouth. If you don’t receive treatment for the infection, it will likely spread to your jaw and even throughout other parts of your body. When this happens, the infection could have life-threatening consequences.
May Develop Pain and Swelling
For some people, an impacted canine won’t ever cause a problem. However, it could irritate your gums. This will contribute to pain and swelling. It might also feel tender to the touch.
May Develop Gum Disease
Gum disease is more likely to arise if you have an impacted tooth in particular, partially through the gums. Gum disease may spread throughout your mouth and cause your gums to feel sore or become tender or swollen. Gum disease can also lead to tooth loss in more serious cases.
Are More Prone to Decay
If you have a tooth that only partly erupts through the gum, it’s more difficult to take care of. As a result, it is more likely to develop decay. If you have an empty space in between your teeth, this area could accumulate debris
Could Contribute to a Cyst
An impacted canine can lead to the formation of a cyst — a fluid-filled sac that forms in the jawbone. A small cyst might not cause any problems. A larger one, on the other hand, can cause swelling, tooth sensitivity, and tooth displacement.
Fortunately, a dentigerous cyst is benign, but it can become infected. The infection is painful and can spread.
Could Lead to Jawbone Loss
An unerupted tooth can cause jawbone loss. When you lose a significant amount of jawbone, you could require reconstructive surgery.
Might Stimulate Tumor Growth
In rare cases, a tumor can develop. Most of the time, the tumor is benign, but it could still destroy your bone.
Ultimately, you should schedule a visit with your dentist and then your oral surgeon if you have an impacted canine. These experts take every step possible to prevent a canine extraction since these teeth play a vital role in the mastication process. Plus, by addressing the problem, your dentist and oral surgeon is protecting you from complications in the future.
Contact Your Trusted Melbourne Oral Surgeon
Book an appointment with Dr. Sedaros — a board-certified oral surgeon who can find a solution for your impacted canine. Reach out to us at Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery and Implants in Melbourne today!