Between the ages of 17 and 25, your wisdom teeth (a third set of molars) starts coming in. People who are those ages also might need orthodontic work. It can seem daunting to have to deal with orthodontics and wisdom teeth at the same time -- after all, if new teeth are coming in, wouldn’t that impact how effective your braces are?
Here at Reed Orthodontics, we cater to patients of any age in the Pittsburgh area, including Squirrel Hill and the North Hills, who need their teeth straightened. That’s why we wanted to help clear up some possible misconceptions about how your wisdom teeth might affect your orthodontic treatment.
First, it’s important to understand how wisdom teeth work. Wisdom teeth have a habit of overcrowding the mouth, especially after molars have already grown in, fully or partially. Wisdom teeth also have a habit of growing in sideways (known as impacted wisdom teeth). However, your wisdom teeth cannot cause your front teeth to become misaligned. The pressure that they put on your molars is not strong enough to affect your front teeth.
This is one reason why some people think that their wisdom teeth can have adverse effects on their orthodontic treatment, either current or previous. Even if your wisdom teeth come in perfectly, it won’t affect your orthodontic treatment. Finally, if your wisdom teeth have already come in straight and you haven’t had braces yet, you can still get treatment!
However, if your wisdom teeth do not come in straight, regardless of your orthodontic history, your dentist may recommend they be removed before bigger problems occur. If you have impacted wisdom teeth, it can result in pain, damage to other teeth, and other issues. Even if you’re not in pain and nothing appears to be wrong, impacted wisdom teeth can be really hard to brush, which means they’re more likely to get tooth decay and gum disease.
If you’re concerned that your wisdom teeth might have some affect on your orthodontic treatment, don’t hesitate to get in touch! Reed Orthodontics can be reached at 412.369.0600 or through our Contact Us form!
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