Crowded teeth don’t always just come in crooked. They can come in above or below the gum line, making for a very awkward smile. A common issue we see at Appel Orthodontics is high canine teeth. Those “fang-like” teeth in the front come in above the rest of the teeth instead of in line with them. You can also have the lower canines come in too low. The good news is we can fix high canine teeth both with braces or Invisalign clear aligners! 

So what are some of the causes of high canine teeth, and what are the options for how to fix high canine teeth? Let’s take a look.

What Causes High Canine Teeth?

How does someone get high canine teeth? Usually, this is caused by other dental issues, such as a narrow palate or teeth crowding. These problems can cause the other teeth to become crowded, leaving little to no room for the canines to come in where they’re supposed to be. Instead, they erupt above the gum line and sit higher than the other teeth. 

When the teeth don’t erupt and drop into their proper position, that’s called ectopic teeth. Some people just have a delay in their erupting teeth. Impacted teeth refers to teeth that do come in at their normal time, but they can’t drop into their normal position because there’s something in the way — specifically other teeth. This is the more common issue with high canines, also called high cuspids. 

If your other teeth erupt early, or if they just don’t have enough room to stay in their own space, you could end up with high canine teeth. Also, if the baby teeth don’t fall out before the permanent teeth come in, that could force the canines to come in too high.  

Do High Canine Teeth Cause Problems?

Here’s the short answer: Yes. High canine teeth can cause several issues if they aren’t treated. High canine teeth may make you want to hide your smile. That’s the last thing we want to see! We want you to be proud to show off your smile.

But your high cuspid teeth can cause more than self-esteem problems. High canine teeth are caused by poor dental alignment, which means the other teeth have issues, as well. This means you could end up with biting and chewing problems. You could also end up with jaw pain from eating or even problems with grinding your teeth. That’s why it’s so important to get high canine teeth treatment with braces or Invisalign.

Can You Fix High Canine Teeth With Braces?

You can fix high canine teeth, along with the dental issues that cause your high canine teeth! Braces are a tried-and-true method for correcting high canine teeth and the issues that cause them, from crooked teeth and gapped teeth to malocclusions such as an open bite, deep bite, or overbite. 

Treatment of high cuspids with braces can take, on average, 9 months to a year. Treatment may take a bit longer if you have other dental issues to fix, especially if you have severe dental issues, such as a deep bite or extremely overcrowded and crooked teeth. 

Appel Orthodontics will be able to give you an estimate of your treatment time during your initial, free consultation. We can also let you know if braces or Invisalign treatment is possible, and you’ll be able to see the before and after on your high canine treatment!

Can You Fix High Canine Teeth Without Braces? 

There are other options to correct high canine teeth. If the problem is overcrowding, your dentist may recommend extracting teeth to allow your other teeth to spread out and allow the canines to drop on their own. Often, the first or second premolars are extracted — the teeth that sit between your back molars and your canines. 

Patients with narrow arches may get a dental arch or palate expander to make room for the high cuspids to drop. The arch or expander will widen the roof of the mouth, making more room for the teeth to settle into their proper positions. 

In severe situations, transplantation may be necessary. This involves an oral surgeon removing the tooth and transplanting it into the correct position. This can only happen if there is enough space to put the canine in its correct place. It’s rare for it to come to this. Usually, your high canines can be fixed with extraction, orthodontic treatment, or a combination of the two. 

Can You Fix High Canine Teeth With Invisalign?

This answer is a little more tricky. You may be able to treat your high canine teeth with clear aligners such as Invisalign. It depends on how high the canines sit above the gum line. If the canines are fairly close to the gum line, it may be possible to use Invisalign to correct your high cuspids. Appel Orthodontics is a top 1% provider of Invisalign clear aligners, which means that if anyone can use Invisalign to fix your high cuspid teeth, it is us!

In some cases, we may start with braces to bring the high canine teeth down while moving the other teeth out of the way so they have room to slide into place. Once the canines have dropped enough, it may be possible to switch to Invisalign for the rest of your treatment. 

Often with this problem, braces are the way to go. If you’re concerned about the way braces will look, don’t worry! Appel Orthodontics offers clear braces as an alternative to traditional metal braces. Clear braces are made to more closely match the natural color of your teeth. That makes them less noticeable than traditional metal braces. 

Getting Treatment for High Canine Teeth

High canine teeth can cause everything from self-esteem issues to biting and chewing problems. But it’s possible to get your high cuspids fixed with treatment from your orthodontist. At Appel Orthodontics, we offer a free, no-obligation evaluation for new patients. We can evaluate your dental issues, including your high cuspids, and determine the best way to treat them. You could have the smile of your dreams sooner than you think!