canine exposure or implants???

[summer]

Hi guys,

I'm 25 and have braces now for about four months. I found out last year i have two impacted canines on top. I'm told they may damage the existing front teeth so i have two options: one, expose the impacted canine, remove the baby canines and wait for them to be pulled down with chains (gold chains!). Or else I could remove the impacted AND baby canines and get implants.

I've been advised that bringing teeth down now naturally is best but there is a risk of them being 'stuck'. Also, i'm not very vain, but the thought of having two big gaps while waiting for the teeth to come down is pretty horrible!

so......i need to make up my mind pretty soon.

anyone had either of these options done before? any recommendations?

thanks a lot!

[Zoso]

I've followed a few people's stories who have chosen the exposure option. Most met with success, although I know one lady who had one of the two prove impossible to bring down.

I must echo the advice you've already been given, that having your natural teeth is preferable to implants. And this is especially true for the canines, since these teeth play a very particular role in your bite.

I'd advise you to go for it. Worst case scenario is the impacted teeth prove to be ankylosed, and even with luxation refuse to move - in that case you can fall back on the implants option. Best case though you end up with your own canines where they are supposed to be.

I can understand and sympathise with your concern about having to live with the gaps whilst the adult canines are brought down into place. However, the implant route is not without its own challenges to our self-image. As far as I've understood it, it is usual to wait a period of anything from three to six months after the fixture - the portion of the implant that is embedded in the bone to act as an "artificial root" - is placed before the abutment and crown are placed. This is to allow for a process called osseointegration to take place, so that the fixture becomes "integrated" with the bone, and will be able to bear the forces involved in biting and chewing.

Another thing you should consider about implants as you make your decision is that they can sometimes fail. There are many factors that influence the chance of this, such as certain medical conditions or medications, bruxism (grinding), or smoking.

ANyway, good luck with your decision and with your treatment.

[Sunny]

Hi Summer ... I faced similar decisions four years ago ... and several times prior to that. Every orthodontist I saw over a period of 20 years recommended that I have my impacted canine exposed. When I eventually was ready to go with treatment, it was too late and it was (and still is) firmly attached to the bone in my jaw.

The second option was to remove the impacted canine, but that wasn't an option due to where the impacted canine is attached to the bone. So the third option was to close the gap, so that I didn't need a plate or bridge. Fourth option ... least preferred ... was to open the gap, for a plate or bridge. My ortho and OS recommended the third and I went with that. It's a slow process for me, mostly due to the impacted canine still being there ... but it's happening and that's the best part.

The gap ... yes there's no way gaps are pretty when we look at them, but I'm confident that most other people don't see the gap on the sides of our mouth, just as they don't really notice we have braces ... or teeth probably. The best part is that the gap won't be there for long ... which is why orthodontics is such a great idea for problems like impacted canines.

Impacted canines seems quite a common issue and the ortho's I work for mostly have success at bringing them down. So here's to you being a successful case and that they move quite quickly.

Good luck with your decision!

[Dulcita105]

Hey Summer-
I saw your post and I had to reply to you. I actually had the same exact problem that you have. I was 18 when I found out that I never lost my eye teeth and that I had the choice of either getting impants or getting braces to correct the problem. Really, this was such a tough choice for me. I was so mad, especially since this only happens to 2% of the population and I couldnt believe that I fell in that small percentage. Everyone told me that it was better to have my natural teeth since they were up there and that I should get the braces. I hated the idea of having braces sooo much and having those 2 spaces there really really got me worried. I finally decided that I would get the braces and try to get my natural teeth down since many people told me that there could be a lot of complications with the implants. Many people reject the implants since they are foreign to the body. I got the braces when I was 21 and I am now 24. I just got them off a couple of weeks ago, and I have to tell you, that it is worth everything that you go through in the end. It really is a tough thing to go through. I am not going to lie, it takes a lot of time, energy, and patience. Also, the two spaces there is pretty tough to get used to, but really you cannot see it with everything else that is going on in your mouth and those teeth come down before you know it. I can definitely tell you that I do not regret it at all. Not only do I have my two eye teeth, but they are also perfectly straight. I understand what you are going through, since I was in my 20's when I got them also. However, I just wanted to tell you a little bit about my story so that you would see that it isn't that bad Good luck with your you decision!

[mikeg]

Good of you to join and share Dulcita.

[mariahfromchicago]

Good for you Dulcita!
Great story!

[Zoso]

Two great things about your post, Dulcita - you share with people that a young adult can get through having braces and gaps, and "live to tell the tale" and you share with people that these unerupted adult canines really can be brought down into place, which might seem absolutely astrounding to many people

[amber96]

I also have impacted canines, and my orthodonist suggested to have the baby ones removed to give the adult ones a chance to grow in on their own. (I'm 14) I waited 3 months, and this never happened. My orthodonist then told me that I should seriously consider getting impacted canine exposure surgery. I wasn't sure, but decided to go for it, and had the surgery this morning. I'm not going to lie: it's uncomfortable and long, and afterwards you bleed a lot and it hurts like crazy. But I think overall, it's the best decision to get the surgery. The impacted canines can cause major problems for you in the future if you don't do anything about them. I would advise you to get the surgery. It's far worth it in the long run. Best of luck.

[ebas17]

I am 40 yrs old just got braces & had surgery for my impacted canine, the plan was to expose & bracket the impacted canine but was told my tooth would not move because I waited too long now it's attached to my bone. I just find it hard to believe in this day and age that my only option is to remove the tooth if possible and get a bridge or implant. They didn't mention that I can have my other teeth fill in the gap like Dulcita mentioned, is this option possible for everyone?? Help!!!