Today, we will discuss the common issues of high canines and crooked canine teeth, which can affect both children and adults by impacting functionality and appearance. Canine teeth, also known as cuspids, are sharp, pointed teeth located on either side of the incisors and are primarily used for tearing food. Here, we will explore the causes and solutions for both high and crooked canine teeth.
What Are Crooked Canine Teeth?
Crooked canine teeth are a common dental issue that affects many individuals. This condition refers to misaligned or sideways cuspids, or canine teeth, which are the sharp, pointed teeth located on either side of the incisors. Crooked canine teeth can cause functional difficulties, such as an improper bite, and may also lead to aesthetic concerns.
Like high canine teeth, crooked canine teeth can be treated with orthodontic solutions such as braces or clear aligners, including Invisalign.
What Are High Canine Teeth?
High canine teeth is another common orthodontic issue that people may face. In simpler terms, this refers to canine teeth that appear longer or higher than the surrounding teeth, creating an uneven and awkward smile. This issue is not necessarily related to crowded teeth. High canine teeth can occur when the teeth erupt above or below the gum line, causing an imbalance in the overall appearance of the smile. Additionally, lower canine teeth may also experience a similar misalignment.
Fortunately, orthodontic treatments like braces can effectively correct this issue, resulting in a more balanced smile. Now, you may wonder what causes crooked and high canine teeth. Let's explore the contributing factors together.
What Causes Crooked Canine Teeth?
These issues can be caused by several factors, including:
- Ectopic Teeth: Ectopic teeth, also known as ectopic eruptions, refer to a dental condition where a tooth or teeth erupt or develop in an abnormal position.
- Impacted Teeth: Impacted teeth refer to a dental condition where one or more teeth fail to fully emerge through the gum tissue, becoming partially or fully trapped within the jawbone, gum tissue, or adjacent teeth, hindering the tooth's normal eruption process.
- Crowded Teeth: Overcrowding in the mouth can prevent canine teeth from erupting properly, leading to crookedness or misalignment.
- Narrow Palate: A narrow palate is a condition where the roof of the mouth is unusually high and arched, leading to a constricted space for the tongue and teeth. This can result in crowded and crooked canine teeth due to insufficient room for proper alignment.
- Retained Baby Teeth: Failure of primary teeth to fall out before the emergence of permanent teeth may cause misalignment of canine teeth.
What Causes High Canine Teeth?
The factors contributing to high canine teeth are similar to those that lead to crooked canine teeth. These include:
- Narrow palate
- Crowding teeth
- Ectopic teeth
- Retained baby teeth
- Impacted teeth
Now the question that may arise in your mind is: “Can high canine teeth cause a problem?”
The short answer is yes. High canine teeth, if left untreated, can cause several issues, like difficulties in chewing and biting, jaw pain, cavities, as well as lower self-confidence.
What Are the Solutions?
Whether your canines are high or crooked, braces and clear aligners, like Invisalign, can fix the issue.
Braces are a tried-and-true method to correct teeth crooked, gapped teeth or any type of orthodontic issues, such as overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite.
The duration of time treatment with braces typically takes between 9 months and 1 year, or even longer, depending on the complexity of your issue.
Crooked canine teeth Invisalign? Yeah, Invisalign can be a good approach for correcting crooked canine teeth if your dental problem isn't severe. However, using Invisalign for high canine teeth depends on how high your canines sit above the gum lines. If canines are fairly close to the gum line, it may be possible to use Invisalign; otherwise, the braces are the only solution. In some cases, your orthodontist may start with braces to drop down the high cuspids while moving the other teeth out of the way. Once canines have brought down enough, it may be possible to switch to Invisalign for the rest of your treatment. Generally speaking, for correcting high canine teeth, braces are the better solution.
Let's take a deeper look at different solutions in different cases.
If a patient has severe overcrowding, their orthodontist may recommend extracting one or more teeth —often on or second premolars —to provide enough space for other teeth. After extraction, braces or aligners are applied to guide the teeth into the desired position.
If patients have narrow arches, their orthodontist may use a palate expander or dental arch to provide more room for high or crooked canine teeth. Expanders will widen the mouth's roof, making enough space for teeth to properly position into desired places.
In rare cases, transplantation may be required, which involves an oral surgeon removing the tooth and transplanting it into the correct position. However, this approach only happens if there's enough space to put the canines in their correct positions.
Typically, high or crooked canine teeth can be fixed by extraction, orthodontic treatment, or a combination of the two.
FAQ
The primary reason for crooked canine teeth in humans often depends on the position of the surrounding teeth. If the teeth are poorly spaced, it can force an emerging canine to erupt in an awkward position. Additionally, genetics and family history play a significant role in increasing the likelihood of this issue.
To correct high canines, braces are the best approach. Time duration often takes between 9 months to 1 year, or even more, depending on the complexity of the issue.
Canine teeth can get sideways due to some factors, including:
- Genetics
- Insufficient space on dental arch
- Early loss of baby teeth
- Abnormal eruption path
ENDNOTE
This article is reviewed by Dr. Mir. Here’s a quick look at his impressive credentials:
Dr. Mir earned his Bachelor of Science at York University and pursued his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) at the University of Southern California (USC). He later completed a certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, along with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Oral Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).
As a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada [FRCD(C)], Dr. Mir is qualified to practice in both the United States and Canada.
He was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society for his exceptional character and professional potential. His numerous awards include the OKU Donald C. Curnette Memorial Scholarship, Clifton O. Dummet & Malik Ethics Award, Nathan A. Styrt Scholarship, and Alpha Omega Presidential Award.
