What Happens If You Leave an Impacted Canine Tooth Untreated

A canine tooth does more than just help you chew. It helps guide the rest of your teeth into place and plays a big part in how your smile looks. These strong teeth, sometimes called eyeteeth or cuspids, have some of the longest roots in your mouth and are meant to be the first to touch when you bite down, which helps guide your bite. But sometimes, this tooth does not come in like it is supposed to. Instead, it gets stuck below the gumline. This is what we call an impacted canine tooth.

In a place like Fairbanks, where winters are long and chilly, ignoring a problem in your mouth can lead to added discomfort. Nerve pain and swelling feel more intense when the weather is cold, and constant tooth pain can make already tough winter days feel harder. We will walk you through what can happen if an impacted canine tooth is left untreated and why it is worth taking care of it before it starts creating bigger problems.

How to Recognize an Impacted Canine Tooth

This dental issue can go unnoticed for a while, especially if there is no obvious pain. Knowing what to look for can help you catch it early and avoid bigger challenges down the road.

Here are a few signs that might point to an impacted canine tooth:

• A tooth that never came in, especially near the front of your mouth
• Gums that feel sore or swollen in the upper corners of your mouth
• Teeth that suddenly feel crowded or seem to be shifting

Dentists see this problem most often in the upper eyetooth, which is the second most common tooth to become impacted after wisdom teeth. Sometimes, these signs are not so clear. You might not feel any pain at all. That is why regular dental visits are important. With tools like 3D scanning or digital x-rays, the problem can often be spotted before you even notice something feels off.

Early detection matters. It gives you more options and can mean an easier fix with less discomfort later on.

What Happens When You Ignore It

When this kind of tooth stays stuck below the gums, it does not just sit quietly. It can slowly start to affect everything around it.

Here is what can happen over time if it is not treated:

• The tooth can push against neighboring teeth, slowly moving them out of line or wearing them down
• Infection can build up around the area, sometimes forming cysts that damage bone and gum tissue
• The longer it stays untreated, the more complicated any future surgery becomes, which can make healing take longer, too

Even if the pain is light or comes and goes, that does not mean the problem is not growing. The damage it can cause is not always on the surface.

Cold Weather and Oral Pain from Impacted Canines

Living through winter in Alaska means dealing with freezing cold air and short daylight hours. If you are already experiencing jaw tension or swelling from an untreated canine tooth, the dry, cold air only makes it feel worse.

Low temperatures can do three things to make oral pain more noticeable:

• Cold air and wind may increase sensitivity in areas close to nerves
• Tender or swollen spots can feel even more irritated because of the dry climate
• Changes in temperature from sipping hot drinks or walking into a warm room from the cold can trigger sharp discomfort

People are often surprised at how the weather affects their mouth pain. But this increase in tooth sensitivity during winter is very real, especially if there is pressure pushing on your gums or jaw from deep inside.

How Oral Surgeons Can Help

Fixing an impacted canine tooth is not something that gets better on its own. It usually takes a closer look and a little planning to make sure the treatment goes smoothly. For more than 17 years, we have been providing state-of-the-art oral surgery care for families across Interior Alaska, so we are very familiar with treating impacted canine teeth in cold-weather conditions.

The treatment process often starts with imaging. By using 3D scanning and digital x-rays, the exact spot and angle of the tooth can be seen clearly. At our office, we use an i-CAT 3D imaging system with cone beam CT technology to capture clear digital pictures while keeping radiation exposure low, which helps guide a safe and accurate treatment plan. That helps guide the next steps, which may include:

• Carefully exposing the tooth so it can be moved into the right place
• Taking the tooth out if saving it is not the right option
• In later stages, repairing any damage done to nearby teeth or bone

In tougher cases, bone grafting might be needed if the surrounding structure has weakened. The key here is that the longer someone waits, the more likely those extra steps become necessary.

Why Timing Matters for Treatment

Timing can make all the difference when it comes to treating an impacted canine tooth. Acting early keeps the problem smaller and the options simpler.

Here is why treating sooner is better:

• Surrounding teeth stay protected and are less likely to shift or get damaged
• The recovery process is often quicker, especially when done before deeper issues develop
• Cold weather adds challenges, like managing post-surgery swelling while bundled up, so avoiding complex winter healing makes things easier

Getting started before symptoms get worse can take some stress out of the situation. It gives you more control over your care, and you also get time to sort out things like insurance without having to rush it all in pain.

Take Care Before It Gets Worse

An impacted canine tooth may seem like a small thing in the beginning. But over time, it can start to change the way your mouth looks, feels, and works. Even if the area does not hurt all the time, that tooth is putting pressure on something. And pressure, especially when paired with changing weather, rarely leads to anything good.

Taking steps early gives you peace of mind and avoids extra hassle down the line. Winter brings its own set of challenges, so it is worth checking in before things get more uncomfortable.

If you have noticed a missing tooth that never came in or you have been dealing with gum tenderness near the front of your mouth, it might be time to look into it. Catching a problem like this early often leads to faster healing and fewer complications, especially during cold Alaska winters.

Putting off treatment for what could be an impacted canine tooth can turn a simple procedure into a more complicated issue, especially during the colder months when discomfort often feels worse. We use advanced imaging and surgical planning to make your experience as smooth and safe as possible, from your first visit to recovery. To find out what to expect and how we can help, call Alaska Oral & Facial Surgery at 907-452-4101 to schedule your appointment.