Alyssa says:

Hi, i did a panoramic x-ray because of the pain i felt for so long and the result was bad. I got 4 impacted wisdom teeth and 1 impacted canine. I would like to ask for your opinion, if it's ok not to remove my impacted canine under my lower right side of the teeth? The tooth can be felt by my tongue, it really is at the side of my tongue and im kind of afraid of removing it.

Claire says:

Doctor, thank you so much for this reply and your observations on my daughter's retained upper canines. We will seek orthodontic care directly after the holidays.

Looking at the diagram in your "Interceptive Treatment" section on this page, I am guessing that her upper left canine position is at least zone 4 or beyond, and thus needing the orthodontic corrections you recommended.

I have seen both open and closed exposure methods discussed online. Are exposure methods are different depending on the location of the impacted tooth (either in front of or behind its correct position)?

I do have one other child with a similar issue (retained upper canines). Two of my children (twins) had no issues with shedding all baby teeth and the positioning of adult teeth, and two have this retained canine issue.

Her images:

https://postimg.cc/wy97kGwv
https://postimg.cc/d734W5Dq

One upper baby canine (the right, I believe) was being pushed outward by the adult tooth like a "fang" sticking out of place, and once it was extracted, the adult canine slid into position without trouble. The adult tooth had already broken through the tissue and was wedged behind the stubborn baby tooth. This panoramic was taken prior to that extraction. The photo of her teeth is current, showing one adult upper canine and one remaining baby canine.

We have not had the opposite baby canine removed yet, (she is fearful of extractions and dental treatments) but I really want this to be resolved for her, so there are no more worries (and no more baby teeth).

I am wondering if the position of her left upper adult canine looks good so that extraction of the remaining baby tooth would allow it to come into position on its own. If so, perhaps we can avoid an orthodontist in this case (no offense intended!) :)

Merci, et bonne année 2020!

Claire

Nico E Yamin says:

I would like to purchase a mandibular device. I am 21 years old, I have an overbite, and my lower jaw/palate is much smaller than my upper jaw. My upper jaw developed appropriately, but my lower jaw did not. If you have non surgical equipment that I can use to expand the width of my palate & or correct my overbite, i would like to buy a product.

My orthodontist is unwilling to help me. So, I would have to order online to the united states.

Ceren says:

Thank you so much.

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

Yes you may try orthodotnic traction and reassess if it fail to move. I don't know the severity of impaction and 25 years is a little bit old.
If it go well, it take 1 year minimum. just to bring the canine ine, then another year to finish the treatment.

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

If you have protrusion of your lips and dentition, chances are that you may need extraction of 4 premolars. What is the problem with your father?

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

Yes it could be possible to get surgery without braces if your teeth are aligned witht he previous treatment.

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

The faith of the canine should have been decide before initiating the orthodontic treatment. The fact that the canine was high doe not mean it is not possible to bring it into occlusion. However, there was a risk that it could be ankyloses or become ankylose during treatment.
At this stage, I can't recommend to change the treatment plan, therefore, you should procedd to extract the impacted canine and then close the space. I WOULD NOT try to close the space if the canine are still impacted.

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

Dental age, skeletal age and chronological age are often not in sync. Girls have often a year or two in advance in their dentition compared to boys. I hope that help.

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

Retained primary canine

Without any hesitation, you should extract both primary canines (marked with X). The upper right canine will erupt soon in the space. The left canine will need surgical exposure and orthodontic traction.

The gap created in the mean time is a minor issue that will be solved by the orthodontic treatment.

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

The key question would be if the upper dental midline is coincident to the facial midline.
Yes you may need protraction of all posterior teeth on that side and it may take more than 6 months.

Dami says:

Hello Dr I had my one of my canine’s removed on my left side when I was 11 and I got braces when I was 15 and I have a gap between my lateral incisor and my first premolar. Now a year later my orthodontist finally put a spring between the second premolar and the first premolar to try to push the first premolar to the lateral incisor. But I’m wondering won’t that just make a space between the molars and if so will they push those together and therefore have to push all the teeth on my upper jaw to the right to close the gap. I’ve had these braces for a year how much longer do you think I’m going to have them on for. Do you think I’d be likely to get them off in the next 6 months

Claire says:

My 13 year old daughter (will be 14 in March) had a panoramic taken at her recent check-up. She has her adult lower canines, but her upper canines are her baby teeth. The panoramic shows her adult upper canines and their positions. Though the dentist said one of the adult canines is in good position, if she pulled the baby tooth on that side there would be a huge gap and she wasn't sure if that was the right approach; my daughter has a lot of space there, as if the adult canine is pushing the baby tooth to the side.

On the other side, the adult canine is tilted in the wrong direction. Both baby canines still have root retained and neither are wiggly. If the baby tooth beneath the crooked adult tooth were pulled, do you think there is a chance the adult tooth would straighten toward the gap on its own, or is this a definite case for orthodontic intervention?

I have never been to an orthodontist before for any of my children and just want to avoid over-treatment. My daughter has no discomfort with her gums, teeth or bite. It seems one side might just have the baby tooth pulled and the adult tooth is ready to descend, but the crooked side concerns me.

I have been reading your site and everyone's cases and questions, and would appreciate getting your thoughts on my daughter's canines, so I can be more knowledgeable about what may be needed, what approach/es would be most reasonable, and what may not be necessary. Merci beaucoup.

I don't have Facebook, so here are links to a dropbox for your review:
panoramic: https://postimg.cc/sMwYNVHq
tooth spacing, 3 pics: https://postimg.cc/gallery/1fagq2c9g/

Bedla says:

Hi,
I am 30 years old women, i have impacted upper canine, because of that i have gaps and i want to close the gaps.when i first visit my orthodontists he requested to see 3D image of the canine and he said he will not be able to pull the canine down because one is close to my nostrils and the other one on my left side might damage the roots of central and lateral incisor. but after looking at 3D image he said they are palatal and recommended to put brace on to close the gap by substituting the first premolar in place of canine and the impacted canines will be removed anytime after the gaps are closed or just leave as impacted. Now 7 months after straightening all teeth he is asking me to choose between extracting the impacted canine before closing the gap or just closing the gaps with taking 20% risk of root shortening due to the impacted canine. i am really worried what to choose.i don't have any courage to extract the canine because it is close to my nostrils and sinus. i can attach you my x-ray picture but i don't see any option for attachment.

thanks,

Mariane says:

Hello Doctor, I wanna ask you a question related to asymmetry. I'm 29 years old, from last year I've noticed my chin is a bit bigger on the left side and my bite looks asymmetrical as well, I have a little underbite that was camouflaged by ortodonthic treatment 4 years ago, when my braces came off the asymmetry was not there, it seems like it "appeared" this year and I'm really worried, could it get worse? Also, and my question is.... Due to the braces I have short roots and resorption, I can't get braces again, is it possible for me to have jaw surgery without braces?

Ceren says:

Is there a correlation between the dental age and skeletal age?
My almost 10 year old daughter is getting her 12 year old molars.

Thank you

Shubham chaubey says:

Sir,i have had my braces 6 month ago..but i don't find any change..dentist has suggested me for pre molar extraction..but my father is not getting ready for it.. please help me ...whether I should have extraction or not?

Mannat says:

I am 25 years old and I discovered I have two mandibular impacted canines with retained primary canines. Should I get the primaries extracted with trial of eruption of impacted ones and how much time would it take or should I let it be as it is?

Dr Sylvain Chamberland, Orthodontiste says:

Keep in mind that there is no appliances, muscles exercices, speech exercises, chewing exercices that can grow mandible. This is pure quackery and snake oil.
I would follow the recommendation of your maxillofacial specialist.