Are you worried that your child’s wisdom teeth may affect their smile? You’re not alone.
One thing that many parents and young adults worry about is if their wisdom teeth will affect their smile. However, since most people will not get their last set of molars until they are 17 or older, this can create a new problem: Whether or not you should wait to get braces until after your wisdom teeth are removed. The short answer to this issue is no; you should not wait until after your wisdom teeth are removed (or even for them to erupt) to get braces.
Braces are primarily used to straighten crooked teeth, align bites or malocclusions, and remove or create space so that permanent teeth can properly come in as they grow. The last teeth to come in are an extra set of molars, known as wisdom teeth. This extra set of molars rarely fits with the rest of the 28 teeth, and for this reason, many people will need to undergo orthodontic surgery to have at least one wisdom tooth extracted, if not more. However, as you’ll see, wisdom teeth don’t have much effect on the rest of our smile.
Today on the blog, we will discuss why there is no need to wait until your wisdom teeth are removed to get Idaho Falls braces as well as why wisdom teeth should be removed in the first place.
Why We Need Our Wisdom Teeth Removed
There are numerous reasons why wisdom teeth should be extracted by an oral surgeon. However, none of these reasons have to do with the shifting of the rest of your teeth. In fact, the University of Iowa has shown that wisdom teeth do not actually exert enough pressure on the rest of the teeth to cause shifting (more on that later). Wisdom teeth do have the potential to cause tooth decay, create cysts, and generate a lot of unnecessary pain. Omega Dental Specialists suggest getting your wisdom teeth removed if you are experiencing any of the following conditions, symptoms, or situations:
- Excessive tooth decay
- Damage to nearby teeth caused by crowded molars
- Various forms of gum disease are experienced
- Fluid-filled cysts or sacks, as well as tumors, have been detected
- Constant, chronic or persistent pain
- Soft tissue located behind wisdom teeth repeatedly becomes infected
Most, if not all, people who develop wisdom teeth will need to have them extracted. Some unique cases don’t require wisdom tooth extraction, but these are few and far between. Basically, if your wisdom teeth have fully erupted and have grown in a healthy way (not impacted, no skin flaps, etc.) and have a good bite with the opposing teeth, it may be best to keep your wisdom teeth, according to the specialists at Omega. Additionally, wisdom teeth should be easy to access with a toothbrush and floss to reduce the chance of tooth decay and cavities.
Why You Should Braces Before Having Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Most orthodontists will recommend that a child come in for an evaluation around the age of 7 to see if braces or another orthodontic treatment plan may be necessary for the future. The most common time for treatment is between the ages of 11 and 13–long before wisdom teeth have erupted.
As previously mentioned, wisdom teeth have been shown not to have enough pressure to shift the alignment of your teeth. And while wisdom teeth, especially impacted wisdom teeth, can be painful, you don’t have to worry about it changing your smile, which is the primary concern with braces and wisdom teeth. Since most people won’t get their wisdom teeth until their senior years of high school or even early college days, this could mean waiting until you’re in college to get braces if you decide to hold off because of wisdom teeth.
A few things to consider about wisdom teeth and braces in Idaho Falls:
- Adolescents’ teeth and bones are easier to move and align into the proper position than that of an adult. Since it’s easier to adjust the smile and bite, having your child get braces earlier will most likely mean that they don’t have to wear them as long.
- It is not an uncommon practice to have wisdom teeth removed while wearing braces. In fact, if this opportunity does arise, you should take it so that major dental work (braces, extraction, etc.) can be done at the same time.
- After your Idaho Falls braces are removed, your orthodontist will have you fitted for a retainer for your upper teeth and will most likely bond a permanent retainer to your bottom teeth to be worn for at least two years. Retainers are designed to keep your teeth straight, and your bite aligned and should always be worn as directed by your orthodontist to avoid shifting.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, it’s a personal decision whether or not you want to wait until the wisdom teeth come in to get braces. Just know, that wisdom teeth will not affect the alignment of already straightened teeth, but not wearing a retainer correctly could. If your child is self-conscious about their smile or it is causing oral health issues and dental pain, Idaho Falls braces can help. Contact Randall Orthodontics today to schedule a no-obligation consultation to see if you or your child is a good candidate for braces. We want to help you smile with confidence!
Featured Image By: Luis Quintero on Unsplash
