The very last of your child's permanent teeth to erupt might be their wisdom teeth. It's a case of might because these teeth don't always develop. So it could be that the final teeth to develop are their canines. These teeth, also known as cuspids and eye teeth, will generally have erupted between the ages of 9 and 13. When your child gets to the tail end of this age range and their permanent canines have yet to appear, it's natural to start wondering about the delay. Could your child have an impacted canine tooth?

The Importance of Canine Teeth

Human teeth all work together towards a common goal, but each tooth has its own physiology. Canine teeth are especially important for the alignment of a person's bite. They're elongated and are often the longest teeth in a person's dental arch. They're the first tooth to make contact with the tooth in the opposing dental arch when the mouth is closed, meaning they're critical for bite alignment. The maxillary (upper) canine teeth typically have the longest roots of any human teeth. Although it's not a frequent problem, canine teeth can become impacted, meaning they fail to erupt.

Possible Causes of an Impacted Canine Tooth

Canine teeth often become impacted if there is overcrowding in the dental arch. Occasionally this is because of the presence of extra (supernumerary) teeth, but this is rare. A canine tooth that fails to erupt can be due to the formation of the permanent teeth that have emerged before it. These teeth have aligned in a way that has made it difficult for the canine tooth to physically make its way upwards. The issue is not always quickly diagnosed. Because canine teeth are often one of the last to erupt, it might seem as though it's simply delayed. However, this delay can be permanent unless a path is cleared. 

Creating Space for an Impacted Canine Tooth

Consulting an orthodontist might prove to be necessary. An orthodontic brace will be fitted, assisting existing teeth into the correct alignment, creating space for the canine tooth. Your child's gums may then need a small procedure to expose the canine tooth, which will then be able to erupt, and will be guided into place by the orthodontic brace.

So if your child's canine teeth are conspicuously late, there might be a problem with their development. Schedule an appointment with a dentist so that the cause of the problem can be properly diagnosed.