One of the most common problems Dr. Gregory Ross treats in his Forest Lake and Hudson offices is impacted canines. The canines (also called cuspids or eye-teeth) of the upper jaw have a tendency to get stuck and advanced orthodontic work is needed to guide them into place.
The canines occupy the part of the jaw arch with the greatest change in rate of curvature. As such, they are important for stabilizing the other teeth, in addition to their function piercing food. As children undergo x-rays at their bi-annual check-ups, one of the things their dentists will look for is whether the canines will have room to erupt fully.
If a canine does not have enough surface area for a bracket to be attached to, more may need to be exposed by cutting away gum tissue. Once a bracket is attached, it may be connected to the other brackets with a loop-shaped wire called a ballista spring or with a short chain. This is so that pressure can be exerted on the canine without disproportionately affecting the other teeth. While there are many orthodontic procedures that benefit adults, only children have maxillary bones that are soft enough to be adaptable to guided canine eruption.
To learn more about Ross Orthodontics, visit SmilesbyRoss.com. Offices are located in Forest Lake, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin.
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