The first time someone in your family gets braces, you’re bound to have a few questions. You may already know that extra care will be necessary in order to keep the braces in good condition and prevent them from breaking. You may also know about the extra care that will be needed to do a thorough job cleaning the teeth. But what about wisdom teeth? Many people get braces around the time that wisdom teeth will be growing in. So do they affect braces?
A Common Misconception
You’ve probably heard that wisdom teeth have a tendency to push other teeth around a bit when they grow in. That can leave anyone with braces (or paying for them) feeling a little apprehensive, and understandably so. As it turns out, however, that’s actually something of a misconception. While it’s true that many people simply don’t have room in their mouths for another set of molars, the more likely reason for teeth to be shifting is simply because that is a natural byproduct of aging. Generally speaking, wisdom teeth don’t exert enough pressure to cause the other teeth to shift.
Dealing With Wisdom Teeth and Braces
Because the wisdom teeth generally aren’t the cause of misalignments, many orthodontists tend to take more of a wait-and-see approach to wisdom teeth. If there is ample space for them and they aren’t impacted, you may be able to allow them to grow naturally. If, on the other hand, there is a reason to remove the wisdom teeth aside from preventing the movement of other teeth, that can be done while the braces are still there. There’s no need to worry about the timing with braces and wisdom teeth overlapping.
Preventing Future Trouble
Just because wisdom teeth don’t usually cause other teeth to move doesn’t mean that there can’t be trouble down the road. If you want to keep the beautiful results the braces have created, wearing a retainer as directed by Dr. Chad Carver or Dr. Tori Matthys is a must. It will also be essential to make sure that proper oral hygiene procedures are followed purposefully, especially with wisdom teeth. The space they fill can make it harder to clean them thoroughly, so extra effort to prevent tooth decay will be necessary.
As it turns out, there is no guarantee that wisdom teeth will have much of any impact on braces or the results achieved by them. Of course, every person’s case is different, which is why it’s so important to keep your appointments with Dr. Chad Carver and Dr. Tori Matthys. That way they can keep an eye on the progress your braces are making, as well as any issues your wisdom teeth may begin to pose.
Here at Stellar Family Orthodontics, we know it’s not all over just because the braces have been removed. Click here to learn about how to make sure you can keep the beautiful smile your braces have created.