Successfully completing your orthodontic treatment requires a lot of effort and some sacrifices. It’s logical to assume that you don’t want anything to ruin your experience or undo your efforts. Cue the eruption of wisdom teeth.
There is much misinformation out there, and many patients fear that these third molars can cause severe overcrowding even after you’ve completed your treatment.
Should You Be Worried About Your Wisdom Teeth?
Well, yes. Your wisdom teeth can bring about some complications you need to worry about, but maybe not in the way you expected.
Most people fear that as soon as their wisdom teeth decide to come out, all of their front teeth will shift positions. However, there are no clear cause-effect relationships between the eruption of your wisdom teeth and your frontal teeth’ position shift.
Still, there are other things you should be worried about.
Ultimately, the idea behind anyone’s orthodontic treatment is to work on their dental structures’ alignment. If you start orthodontic care from a young age, the initial focus is set to create sufficient space for the eruption of your permanent teeth.
But no matter how much we try, achieving such results while accommodating enough space for your wisdom teeth may prove challenging at best.
Can You Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed With Braces
When your third molars finally feel like stepping outside and erupting from the gum line, they can do so at such a bad angle that there’s no way they can easily erupt.
Do keep in mind that everyone’s case is different. Some patients never have any issues with their wisdom teeth, having enough space for when they finally show up. Others may only have a couple of these molars, while some never even develop these peculiar teeth.
If any obstacles are preventing the normal eruption of your wisdom teeth, they may become impacted.
The Dangers of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
We say a tooth became “impacted” if it doesn’t have enough space to erupt or develop naturally. These cases can quickly result in minor inconveniences or develop into severe health issues.
Patients with impacted wisdom teeth can feel some of the following symptoms:
- Jaw pain
- Swollen and red gums
- Tender and bleeding gums
- Bad breath
The underlying problem is that these symptoms could signify dangerous periodontal problems in your mouth.
This fascinating 2017 article exposes the dangers posed by impacted third molars to an adjacent tooth and your periodontal tissues.
When your tooth stays trapped below the gum line, it creates a pocket and increases the risk of developing severe infections. If this area fills with liquids, it can lead to a cyst that erodes your jawbone and damages the area’s nerves.
This condition also increases the risk of tooth decay in the surrounding teeth, eroding the enamel layers and exposing your tooth’s soft tissues, where an infection can spread to other parts of your body.
Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth Before or After My Braces?
If they pose a threat to your oral health, any dental health professional reviewing your case will refer you to an adequate team to remove those molars.
As we’ve mentioned, your third molars won’t hurt your other teeth’ alignment, but they can become a serious threat to your dental health.
Usually, orthodontic treatment starts and finishes long before these unwise teeth erupt. Considering they usually come out after the patient is 17 years old, you should have enough time to start your orthodontic treatment with any convenient orthodontic appliance in your early teens.
You could use Invisalign® clear aligners, durable and reliable traditional metal braces, discreet ceramic braces options, or any other appliance that fits your needs.
Frequent visits to your orthodontist or general dentist will help plan according to the status of your wisdom teeth. If the team notices these molars becoming a problem, you will have sufficient time to prepare for the removal and carry on with the healthiest version of your smile.
Consulting With a Professional at Estes Orthodontics
Dr. Laurie Estes and the team at Estes Orthodontics are happy to help patients looking for orthodontic treatment in Albany. CA.
Make sure you consult with a professional about your unique circumstances. We will gladly coordinate with you to start your journey toward a beautiful and healthy smile. You can rest assured that we will take such things as the eruption of your wisdom teeth into consideration when planning your treatment.
If there are any risks to your dental health, such as periodontal disease, we will coordinate to work on these issues before using braces or aligners to realign your teeth.
Our goal is to help you achieve beautiful smiles for a lifetime. Give us a call at (510) 525-1772 or set up an appointment online.
