Reviewed By Dr. Jodi Kuhn
Reading time: 4 minutes
Ideally, permanent teeth erupt on a predictable timeline. But in reality, many children experience crowding, delayed eruption, or teeth that never fully emerge. One of the most common and most overlooked issues involves the canine teeth (eye teeth).
We provide dental care for the whole family at our offices in Denver, Aurora, Thornton, and Hampden. We proudly accept Medicaid and make quality dental care accessible for every child.
| Dental and Vision Care in One Convenient Location At our Denver and Aurora locations, Youth Dentistry & Orthodontics and Youth Vision are conveniently located in the same building. This means your child can receive both dental and vision care at one familiar location, without extra travel or scheduling stress. |
Table of Contents
What Do Canine Teeth Do?
Canines sit between the incisors and premolars. Their long roots and pointed shape make them essential for both function and alignment. When canines erupt properly, they help guide the rest of the teeth into position as the jaws close.
Canine teeth support:
- Tearing and chewing food efficiently
- Clear speech and pronunciation
- Proper bite alignment and jaw guidance
- Long-term stability of surrounding teeth
Primary canines usually appear around 16–20 months of age. Permanent canines typically erupt between ages 9 and 13, after incisors and first molars have already come in. That late timing often creates challenges.
What Does It Mean When a Canine Is Impacted?
A canine becomes impacted when it cannot fully erupt into its proper position. Instead of breaking through the gums, the tooth remains trapped beneath the gum tissue or bone.
Impacted canines may be:
- Fully impacted, with no visible portion of the tooth
- Partially erupted, with only part of the tooth showing
Canines most commonly become impacted in the upper jaw, though lower canines can also be affected.
Why Do Canine Teeth Become Impacted?
Impaction rarely happens for a single reason. In most cases, several developmental factors contribute.
Common causes include:
- Crowding or lack of space in the dental arch
- Early loss or prolonged retention of baby teeth, which alters eruption paths
- Genetics, especially narrow jaws or abnormal tooth positioning
- Extra teeth or abnormal growths, such as cysts, blocking eruption
- Teeth erupting in the wrong direction, often toward the palate
Because canines erupt later than many other teeth, they are more likely to encounter obstacles already present in the mouth.
Signs Your Child May Have an Impacted Canine
Regular dental exams help catch issues early, even before discomfort starts.
Possible warning signs include:
- A canine that has not erupted well past the expected age
- Baby canines that do not loosen or fall out on schedule
- Swelling, tenderness, or redness in the gum area
- A noticeable bump on the gum or palate
- Shifting or overlapping front teeth
- Facial discomfort or pressure in the upper jaw
Because symptoms can be subtle, dental X-rays often provide the first clear evidence of impaction.
Why Impacted Canines Should Not Be Ignored
Leaving an impacted canine untreated can lead to complications that extend beyond one tooth.
Potential risks include:
- Damage to neighboring teeth or roots
- Development of cysts or infections
- Resorption of adjacent tooth roots
- Chronic discomfort or pressure
- Worsening crowding and bite problems
- More complex orthodontic treatment later
Early diagnosis often allows for simpler, more effective treatment.
How Dentists Diagnose Impacted Canines
Dentists use digital X-rays or 3D imaging to evaluate the tooth’s position, direction, and relationship to surrounding structures.
These images help determine:
- Whether the canine has enough space to erupt
- How deeply the tooth is impacted
- Whether nearby teeth are at risk
- The most appropriate treatment approach
Early orthodontic evaluations often identify impacted canines before they cause damage.
Treatment Options for Impacted Canines
Treatment depends on your child’s age, the severity of impaction, and overall dental development. Dentists and orthodontists often work together to plan care.
Monitoring and Space Management
When impaction risk appears early, conservative steps may help guide eruption naturally.
These may include:
- Removing retained baby teeth
- Creating space with orthodontic appliances
- Monitoring eruption progress with periodic imaging
Early intervention sometimes allows the canine to erupt without surgery.
Orthodontic Exposure and Guidance
If the canine cannot erupt on its own, a combined surgical and orthodontic approach may help.
This process typically involves:
- Surgically exposing the impacted tooth
- Attaching a small bracket or chain
- Using braces to gently guide the tooth into position over time
This option preserves the natural tooth whenever possible.
Schedule a Dental Exam
If your child’s canine teeth seem delayed or out of place, an evaluation can provide clarity and peace of mind. Early guidance often prevents more complicated treatment later.
Contact Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics to schedule an appointment at any of our locations.
📍Denver Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 1400 Grove Street, Denver, CO 80204 | (303) 825-2295
📍Aurora Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 14251 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011 | (303) 343-3133
📍Thornton Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 550 E. Thornton Parkway, Suite 240A, Thornton, CO 80229 | (303) 280-8878
📍Hampden Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 7400 East Hampden Ave. Unit C1, Denver, CO 80231 | (720) 826-3694
FAQ
At what age should permanent canines come in?
Permanent canines usually erupt between ages 9 and 13. Delays beyond this range may warrant evaluation, especially if baby canines remain in place.
Are impacted canines painful for children?
Some children experience pressure or discomfort, while others have no symptoms at all. Pain often develops if the impacted tooth affects surrounding structures.
Can impacted canines fix themselves without treatment?
In some cases, early space management allows a delayed canine to erupt naturally. However, many impacted canine teeth remain trapped beneath the gums without intervention.
What happens if impacted canines are left untreated?
Leaving impacted teeth untreated can lead to crowding, damage to neighboring roots, cyst formation, and bite problems that become harder to correct over time. Addressing impacted canine teeth early often reduces treatment complexity and helps preserve proper alignment as your child’s smile develops.
