Exposure or Removal of Buried Canine Teeth Prior to Orthodontics
Canine (or eye teeth) are late to erupt into the mouth and therfore frequently have a small amount of space to fit into. Orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth may sometimes require the removal of canine teeth if they are in a poor position and simply don't have room to come through. On occasion, the teeth are in a reasonable position and can be uncovered by a simple surgical procedure and encouraged down slowly by an orthodontist using braces.
We are able to extract or expose canine teeth and this can be done either under a local anesthetic to numb the area or under a short general anaesthetic when you will be fully asleep.
Clearly this operation is most often required by children. We always have a specialist paediatric anaesthetist and specialist children's nursing staff available if this operation is carried out under a general anaesthetic.
If you require treatment, it is usually planned jointly by an orthodontist and your surgeon. You can then decide which option is best for you and we can arrange treatment at a time which is convenient for you (this often means fitting around school holidays).