A baby canine that will not budge
The small baby canine is still firm in the early teens, while the teeth around it have changed.
Uncovering a buried canine
Impacted Canine Exposure in Dubai
When an adult canine stays buried in the jaw, a surgeon can uncover it and the orthodontist can guide it into the arch, if its position, your age and the neighbouring roots allow.
- CBCT 3D imaging
- Surgeon and specialist orthodontists together
- Alternatives explained honestly
The first step is an orthodontic and surgical assessment with imaging. Surgery is planned only once the orthodontic plan is agreed.
Planned around one 3D scanThe surgeon and the orthodontist agree the plan before the canine is uncovered.
Quick answer
What is impacted canine exposure?
Impacted canine exposure is minor surgery to uncover an adult canine that is stuck in the jaw, most often an upper canine lying towards the palate. At Creative Arts in Dubai, Dr. Firas Osman uncovers the tooth and usually bonds a small attachment to it, then a specialist orthodontist uses braces to draw it gradually into line. A CBCT 3D scan guides the plan.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
Warning signs
Signs that a canine may be impacted
Upper canines are usually among the last front teeth to come through, often between about 11 and 13. These signs suggest one is not on its way.
No bulge in the gum
By around 10 or 11, a coming canine can usually be felt as a bump high on the gum above the baby tooth.
A tilted or spaced front tooth
The lateral incisor next door leans or flares, because the buried canine is pressing on its root.
Asymmetry between sides
One canine has come through and the other has not, or a bump is felt in the roof of the mouth.
At a glance
Impacted canine exposure in brief
- What it is
- Minor surgery to uncover a buried canine, combined with orthodontic treatment to move it into line
- Imaging
- A panoramic X-ray, then a CBCT 3D scan to locate the canine and check the roots beside it
- Anaesthesia
- Local anaesthetic; sedation or general anaesthesia can be discussed after a medical review
- Who treats you
- Dr. Firas Osman (surgery) with specialist orthodontists Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz and Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko
- Gum healing
- Usually about one to two weeks
- Orthodontic time
- Guiding the canine usually adds months to treatment; how many depends on how far it must move
- Where
- Creative Arts, 614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Dubai
Not every impacted canine should be brought into the arch. The CBCT findings, your age and the overall bite decide.
The pathway
How an impacted canine is brought into line, step by step
Exposure is one stage inside an orthodontic plan, not a stand-alone operation.
Orthodontic assessment
The specialist orthodontist checks the bite, the space available and the timing, and judges whether the canine is worth bringing in.
First visitCBCT 3D scan
Shows whether the canine lies towards the palate or the cheek, its angle and depth, and whether it is wearing away the roots of the front teeth.
PlanningBraces and space
Fixed braces are usually fitted first to open room in the arch, so the canine has somewhere to go.
Before surgerySurgical exposure
Under local anaesthetic, Dr. Firas Osman uncovers the crown of the canine. Either a small window is left open, or a small bracket with a fine chain is bonded and the gum is closed back over it.
SurgeryGuided eruption
Gentle orthodontic force draws the tooth towards the arch over months, with regular adjustments and progress checks.
MonthsFinishing and retention
The canine is aligned with its neighbours, and a retainer holds the result over the long term.
End of treatment
Two specialities, one plan
Why the surgeon and the orthodontist plan together
Exposure is only half the treatment. The orthodontist decides where the attachment should sit, which direction the tooth will be pulled and when surgery should happen. The surgeon decides how to reach the tooth with the least disturbance to bone and gum.
- Same scan, same plan: both work from one CBCT scan, which lowers the chance of a second operation to reposition an attachment.
- Open or closed exposure: a canine near the surface, towards the cheek, may suit a small open window; a deep or palatal one usually suits closed exposure with a chain.
- Timing: space is usually opened first, so traction can start soon after surgery.
The orthodontic side is led by specialist orthodontists from our orthodontics team; the surgery forms part of our oral and maxillofacial surgery service.
All the options
Impacted canine options compared: expose, remove or monitor
Bringing the canine into line is often worth trying, but it is one option among several.
| Option | When it is considered | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor with X-rays | The canine is in a harmless position, the bite is acceptable, or you prefer no treatment | Regular checks needed; a buried tooth can occasionally form a cyst or damage neighbouring roots |
| Exposure and orthodontic alignment | The canine is in a workable position, there is or can be space, and you are willing to wear braces | Longer orthodontic treatment; the canine may still fail to move |
| Keep the baby canine | The baby tooth is still firm with a healthy root, often in adults | Can last years but will eventually need replacing |
| Remove it and close the space | The canine is badly placed or fused to the bone, and the bite allows the gap to be closed with braces | No canine on that side; the neighbouring tooth may be reshaped to resemble one |
| Remove it and replace it later | The space needs to be kept, for example once the baby canine is lost | An implant is placed only after jaw growth has finished; a bridge is an alternative |
The right option depends on the CBCT findings, your age and the overall bite. The orthodontist and the surgeon explain their reasoning in your written plan.
Who it suits
When exposure usually works, and when another route is wiser
Exposure is often a good option when
- You are a teenager or young adult and the canine lies in a workable position
- Enough room exists, or can be made, in the arch
- The roots of the neighbouring teeth are healthy, or any damage has been caught early
- You are prepared to wear braces for the extra months
Another option may be wiser when
- The canine is fused to the bone and cannot be moved
- It lies very high, or horizontally across the roots of other teeth
- You are an older adult, when the chance of the canine moving is lower
- You do not want orthodontic treatment
What recovery after canine exposure is like
Most people return to school or work the next day. The area is tender for a few days and is usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief; soft food, careful brushing around the site and any rinse you are given help healing. If a protective pack covers an open window, it is removed at a review. Swelling is usually mild; our guide to swelling after oral surgery explains what is normal and what needs a call.
Tell the orthodontist promptly if the chain or bracket comes loose. The canine cannot be pulled until it is reattached, and a further small procedure is sometimes needed.
Who treats you
The team behind impacted canine treatment
Dr. Firas Osman, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist, performs the exposure. Specialist orthodontists Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz and Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko plan the orthodontic side and guide the canine into place.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
At what age should an impacted canine be checked?
If a child of 10 or 11 has no canine bulge in the gum, or the baby canine is still firm in the early teens, an orthodontic assessment with an X-ray is sensible. Found earlier, there are usually more options. Our children's orthodontic assessment explains what is checked.
Does impacted canine exposure surgery hurt?
It is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure rather than sharp pain during the procedure. Afterwards the area is usually tender for a few days and is managed with over-the-counter pain relief. If you are anxious, sedation can be discussed after a medical review.
How long does it take to bring an impacted canine down with braces?
It depends on how deep the canine lies and how far it has to travel. Movement is deliberately slow, and guiding the tooth into the arch commonly adds several months to orthodontic treatment, sometimes more. The orthodontist gives an estimate after the CBCT scan and updates it as the tooth responds.
Can an impacted canine be brought into place in adults?
Sometimes. Adults can have successful exposure, but the chance that the canine moves is lower than in teenagers, and some adult canines are fused to the bone. The CBCT scan and orthodontic assessment help judge the outlook. If it is poor, keeping the baby canine, or removal with a bridge or implant later, may be more sensible.
What happens if an impacted canine is left alone?
Many stay harmless for years, but they are monitored because a buried tooth can occasionally form a cyst or wear away the roots of the front teeth. If it stays, periodic X-rays check for change. Our page on impacted teeth covers other teeth that can become stuck.
What if the impacted canine does not move after exposure?
If the canine does not respond to traction, it is usually fused to the bone. It is then normally removed, and the space is either closed with braces or kept for a replacement tooth. The orthodontist and the surgeon decide together, based on your bite, your smile and your age.
Will an exposed canine look different from my other teeth?
Usually it ends up looking much like the canine on the other side, but the gum around it can sit slightly differently, especially after exposure from the cheek side. Small differences can often be refined at the end of orthodontic treatment; your dentist will explain whether any gum reshaping would help.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
ConditionImpacted teethWisdom teeth, canines and other teeth that fail to come through.OrthodonticsBraces in DubaiFixed braces that open space and guide an exposed canine.TeenagersOrthodontist for teenagersTiming treatment with growth, and keeping it on track.ChildrenChildren's orthodontic assessmentWhat a check around age seven looks for.Oral surgeryOral & maxillofacial surgery in DubaiDr. Firas Osman, operating rooms and anaesthesia options.ImplantsFront tooth implantReplacing a front tooth once jaw growth has finished.
Book a consultation
Request a consultation
Tell us what you would like to change. The clinic replies within working hours with an appointment time.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
Book Your Consultation
Or call us +971 4 342 4444Or message us on WhatsApp
Talk to a dentist about your case
A consultation ends with a diagnosis and a written, itemised plan — not a sales pitch. Book online, message us on WhatsApp, or call the clinic.