Question:
My 9-year-old son’s dentist told me he has an impacted canine and that it might resorb the root of adjacent teeth. What causes a canine to become impacted and which teeth are at risk of resorption?
Answer:
If a canine is impacted (stuck) in the palate the cause is either genetics or an unknown cause. If the canine is impacted within the dental arch or in front of erupted teeth it is always due to crowding. The tooth at risk of resorption with palatal impacted canines is usually the first premolar. For arch or front impacted canines, it is almost always the lateral incisor that is at risk. Any child with an impacted canine should immediately see an orthodontist for evaluation.