Impaction of primary cuspid teeth, also known as baby canines, is considered to be rare, while impaction of adult cuspid teeth (or canines) are more common. The usual causes of impaction of primary teeth include:
- Ectopic position, meaning it is in an abnormal position
- Ankylosis (joined to the bone)
- Local obstruction e.g odontomas (benign tissue growth around the teeth)
Impaction of primary molars is more common, followed by that of primary incisors. Impacted primary teeth may be associated with defects in the development and eruption of their permanent successors, hence extracting impacted primary cuspid teeth in a timely way allows a path of eruption of the adult teeth. Monitoring of the eruption of the adult successor is needed as there may be a chance that the adult teeth may also be impacted.
As mentioned earlier, impaction of adult cuspid teeth or canines are more frequently seen as these are the last front teeth to erupt and usually, the cause of impaction may be due to crowding or an ectopic position. The decision on whether to extract these teeth will depend on the following:
- Its position (whether or not the tooth can be tracked with braces)
- The presence of any crowding in other areas of the mouth
- The facial profile and lip support
However, if the decision is made that these teeth need to be extracted, the risk of its removal will depend on its proximity to the adjacent teeth and the maxillary sinus. The risk is low but injury to the adjacent teeth is a possibility and may result in the injured teeth requiring root canal treatment. Damage to the maxillary sinus is also a possibility but repair and post-op care will usually result in healing with no long-term complications.
Hope this helps and all the very best,
Dr Priscilla Lu
Orthodontist
