Will Wisdom Teeth Ruin My Braces?
Wisdom tooth problems are so common that 9 out of 10 people undergo surgery or treatment for at least one wisdom tooth. Teenagers are most likely to develop wisdom tooth related problems as these third molars develop by the time we turn 17 or 18. If you’re in your late teens or twenties and want to get your teeth straightened, make sure you get your mouth examined to determine whether your wisdom teeth have made any progress. Wisdom teeth that come out straight generally pose no problem to the other teeth in the mouth. If they do come out at an angle or remain impacted in the gum, they could cause a number of different problems.
If you’re about to remove your braces and find out that your wisdom teeth are coming out, you’ll have to get them monitored by the orthodontist, as you risk losing all the work you’ve done on your teeth.
When is Wisdom Tooth Removal Necessary?
You might have to remove your wisdom teeth if they are going to displace teeth that have already been straightened. Impacted wisdom teeth are also best removed before they cause any complications. If you haven’t started orthodontic work yet and your wisdom teeth are coming out at an angle, consider getting them extracted before you spend time and money on straightening your teeth.
Alignment of teeth can take a couple of years. So if your wisdom teeth erupt and crowd your mouth, they might undo several years’ worth of orthodontic work. Whether you’ll have to extract your wisdom tooth before wearing braces or after removing them, will depend entirely on your individual case. If wisdom tooth surgery is recommended, you should try to undergo the procedure before the roots get firmly embedded within the jawbone.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
The earlier you get problematic wisdom teeth removed, the faster you’ll recover. Infected wisdom teeth damage the gum, cause cysts and unbearable toothache. Decayed wisdom teeth can also start rotting the adjacent teeth, causing even more problems. With the availability of modern tools, X-ray machines and pain control medications, wisdom teeth removal is now considered a fairly routine procedure.
There are a few risks to be aware of, namely delayed healing and sensitivity in the lips/mouth caused by damage to the mandibular nerve. Those in their teens and twenties heal faster than seniors so it’s important to take this into consideration when you’re contemplating wisdom tooth removal surgery.
In most cases the pros of undergoing the surgery outweigh the cons. Once your wisdom teeth are extracted, you can keep your teeth straight for a long time by using Invisalign, braces and finally dental retainers.
If you want to know more about wisdom teeth and braces, speak to our experienced orthodontists at Tony Weir Orthodontics . We help you achieve fantastic smiles by offering you the best dental solutions for all your tooth problems. We have been practising for more than twenty years and have received platinum-level certification from Invisalign for having fitted their transparent braces on hundreds of patients suffering from misaligned teeth.
Book an appointment with us online or call us on 07 3278 1492.