An impacted tooth simply means that it is stuck and cannot erupt into function. The maxillary canine is the second most common tooth to become impacted (wisdom teeth being the first). The canine tooth is a critical tooth in the dental arch and plays an important role in a patient’s bite.
The older the patient, the more likely an impacted canine will not erupt by natures forces alone even if the space is available for the tooth to fit in the dental arch. In these cases the impacted teeth will be exposed and bracketed with a temporary anchorage device.