The term “high canine” may seem to refer to our four-legged friends, but as our friendly orthodontist at Ortho Inc. can attest, it’s a common misalignment condition among patients we see. At our state-of-the-art practice, we have more options than ever for treating this and other issues that can adversely affect the way your teeth look, feel, and function. No matter your age or your previous conceptions of orthodontic care, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the advances and high level of care you’ll receive from our staff and specialist.
First, a little background. The canines are those four long, sharp, pointed teeth on the top and bottom of your mouth that help us cut or tear into our food when we chew. The canines — so named because they have the appearance of a dog’s fangs — also help to properly align the jaw when your mouth is closed.
When crowding or poor spacing causes these teeth to come in above the surrounding teeth instead of in line with them, this is what we refer to as high canines. These high canines can be quite noticeable, drawing unwanted attention and causing self-consciousness.
But their drawbacks are about more than cosmetics. As we previously noted, the position of the high canines is signaling other problems with your bite or the overall alignment of your teeth. This can have painful consequences and can make it difficult to chew and bite into food as well as contribute to grinding of the teeth known as bruxism.
Orthodontic treatment is highly successful in gently repositioning high canines as well as creating proper alignment of the teeth. The end result is a smile that feels and functions as good as it looks!
At Ortho Inc., our orthodontist has the experience, technology and treatment options to achieve a smile you’ll be proud to show the world for many years to come. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment!
