Should You Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed Before Braces?
Many patients are concerned about whether they should get their wisdom teeth removed before getting braces. They may fear that removing their wisdom teeth will mess up their teeth’s alignment, ruin previous dental work and cause other issues.
However, not all wisdom teeth have to be removed. Your dentist or orthodontist will have to examine the condition of your wisdom teeth and determine if you’re likely to need the removal.
1. They can cause overcrowding
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and usually begin to show up on dental x-rays around the time you’re an adolescent. When they grow in crooked, they can cause overcrowding with your other teeth, causing pain and problems with your bite.
This is why it’s so important to get your wisdom teeth removed before you start orthodontic treatment. If you do, your braces treatment will be more effective and your smile will be much straighter!
However, there is a lot of controversy in this area. Some orthodontists think that wisdom teeth do cause overcrowding, while others think that they don’t.
Regardless of your opinion, it’s always a good idea to get regular x-rays during the teen years to check for wisdom tooth positioning. This will help your orthodontist determine if you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted before you get braces.
2. They can lead to infection
If an impacted wisdom tooth is left untreated, it can cause serious problems. These include bacterial infections, periodontal disease and abscesses.
The infection from an impacted wisdom tooth can start to spread and cause symptoms like pain, swelling and fever. It’s also possible for your lymph nodes to become swollen in the area around the tooth.
You can treat this infection by rinsing your mouth with salt water or hydrogen peroxide, which helps to stop the spread of bacteria. Alternatively, you can use a cold compress to soothe the pain and reduce swelling.
Getting your wisdom teeth removed early can help prevent these complications from occurring. In addition, regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings can prevent them from causing any harm in the future.
3. They can interfere with the growth of other teeth
Wisdom teeth can grow crooked or at an angle, which may cause damage to other healthy teeth. This may require orthodontic treatment to address the misalignment and correct the issue.
In addition, impacted wisdom teeth can push and slam your other teeth out of place, which can result in pain, headaches, bite issues and tooth damage. It is especially important to get them removed before braces to prevent problems with your new teeth and ensure a smoother process for your treatment.
Wisdom teeth are also more likely to develop oral infections and impacted wisdom teeth are more susceptible to gum disease than regular teeth because of their position in the back of the mouth and difficulty cleaning next to them properly. Bacteria and plaque build up in the spaces between partially erupted wisdom teeth, increasing your risk for developing a painful condition called pericoronitis. Cysts (sacs of fluid) can also develop around impacted teeth that slowly expand and destroy adjacent jaw bone and some teeth.
4. They can affect your bite
When patients get braces, they often worry that their wisdom teeth will interfere with the results. For a number of reasons, they should have them removed before getting braces.
While it’s true that your wisdom teeth aren’t likely to change the way your teeth align, they can affect your bite. They’re located at the back of your mouth, which means they can push against your other teeth and cause them to shift.
This can cause a whole host of dental issues, including overcrowding and damage to the roots of your other teeth. It also makes it difficult to brush and floss correctly.
Your wisdom teeth can also cause your other teeth to shift and become misaligned. This can make it even more difficult to straighten them again.
