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Do I Have to Remove My Wisdom Teeth for Braces?

Wisdom Teeth and Braces

Wisdom teeth extraction is a procedure that, although nobody wants to go through it, seems unavoidable at times. Given that only between 5 and 37 percent of people in the world are missing at least one wisdom tooth, it’s clear that you will most likely have them and, by consequence, need an extraction, right? Well, not necessarily. In this article, we will clarify a few misconceptions about our wisdom teeth, their need for removal, and when can you get them removed.

Can Wisdom Teeth Shift My Teeth?

The short and surprising answer to this is no; your wisdom teeth do not possess enough force to move the rest of the teeth in your mouth out of position. Of course, wisdom teeth can be the cause of many different complications in your oral health, but they do little to nothing regarding your teeth shifting.

For many years it was thought that wisdom teeth were in part responsible for your teeth shifting; consequently, many orthodontists would remove them to prevent any damage. After numerous studies found that not to be the case, orthodontists stopped recommending preventative wisdom teeth removal. Nowadays, it is only done when there is evidence of it damaging other parts of your mouth.

What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

Once your wisdom teeth have grown, they fall into one of the following three categories. Impacted, which happens when your wisdom teeth are stuck inside the gums and aren’t visible at all. A partial eruption occurs when you can see a part of the teeth outside the gums and the other part is still trapped inside. Finally, your wisdom teeth will have fully erupted when they grow out completely.

Regardless of how your wisdom teeth grow, they can cause some damage to your jaw, gums, and surrounding teeth. If your wisdom tooth is fully impacted, it could be a potential infection depending on how close it is to your gum line and your jaw. Partially erupted teeth can provide bacteria with a safe space to grow and accumulate, given that the position and eruption of the tooth make it difficult to clean properly. Although these problems can happen, it doesn’t mean that they will. Because of that, dentists will only extract a wisdom tooth once they find it is the root of a problem.

Can I Get Wisdom Teeth Removed With Braces?

Yes, you can get your wisdom teeth removed with braces. The procedure and recovery process of both interventions do not overlap each other. The best timing for your extraction should be a few weeks before your next adjustment appointment, given that it would be ideal to have some time to recover before your dentist retightens your braces and applies pressure to that side of your mouth again.

Should I Get Braces After Wisdom Teeth?

It is common for orthodontists to check for wisdom teeth growth before they start the braces procedure; they will be able to see if there is enough space for your wisdom teeth to erupt or not. If they determine that there is not enough space for your extra molars, then they will remove them. On the contrary, if there is enough space, then there is no real need to extract them.

Of course, patients of all ages wear braces; some will have already developed their teeth fully, while in others, the wisdom teeth aren’t even visible. As explained previously, your wisdom teeth can create some problems but are not the cause of teeth shifting; they don’t represent a danger to your brace’s treatment. If your orthodontist or dental specialist detects problems caused by your wisdom teeth’s growth, like infections or cysts, then they can remove them whenever they consider it necessary.

What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

If you are not using any orthodontic appliances, then the dietary restrictions are only for your healing process. Once you are feeling as good as you usually do, you can continue eating what you want at your heart’s desire. But before that, your gums and jaws will be sore and swollen after the surgery, so the best thing you can do is to avoid hard foods and try to have meals that require you to chew as little as possible. Spicy foods and alcohol can cause irritation to the affected area, so you should try to stay away from them as well.

A classic tip from your oral surgeon after a wisdom teeth removal is consuming cold beverages and meals. The cold treat will help in numbing the feeling as well as reducing how swollen it is. A few other safe plates to eat are fish, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and soups. After a few days, you should be feeling better to go back to your regular diet.

If you wish to get more information regarding your wisdom teeth or how they may affect your braces treatment, contact us here. Here at Pavlo Orthodontics, we are happy to help you in any way possible.