Dental Braces and Their Challenges: Wisdom Teeth

The reasoning behind the use of dental braces is quite simple. A Roanoke orthodontist would recommend the installation of braces to correct problems with the position of a patient’s teeth and jaws. Any patient can face several orthodontic conditions ranging from mild overcrowding to severe misalignment of their jaws.

Braces apply force over your teeth to push or pull them into the correct position. The orthodontist will bond the brackets to your teeth and connect them with an archwire to ensure they realign. Most patients report feeling uncomfortable during the first adjustments, but the effectiveness of engaging in orthodontic treatment is evident. Patients who complete the process of using braces have beautiful and healthy smiles.

Considering that the treatment may prolong for a long time, it is understandable that patients want to know and control as much as they can to make the treatment more efficient and shorter in length. Many patients worry about their wisdom teeth and how they may undo the effort put into wearing your dental braces.

The short answer is that you do not have to worry about wisdom teeth undoing orthodontic treatment in Roanoke. There are valid reasons to remove these molars, but the fear of developing orthodontic problems after using braces because of the eruption of your wisdom teeth is mostly unfounded.

Where the fear come from

Orthodontists across the nation recommend that a child engages in treatment as soon as possible. A young patient receiving age-appropriate treatment can significantly reduce the length of later procedures, and their smile can develop without added risk to their dental health. If a patient needs dental braces, they would ideally start between ages 8 and 14.

One concern in any parents’ mind can be the eruption of wisdom teeth. These are the last molars to appear in a developing teen’s mouth, so if they finally show up around ages 17 and 21, it is understandable that patients wonder if they will affect orthodontic treatment. Many fear that the eruption of your wisdom teeth will move your teeth, causing them to bunch up, but we want to reassure you this process is not a reason for teeth overcrowding.

Should I wear dental braces only after the removal of wisdom teeth?

Not really. The reasons behind your orthodontist’s recommendations to wear dental braces are to maintain and improve your dental health. Well-aligned teeth remain cleaner because the patient can brush them and floss properly. Wisdom teeth, while not always capable of moving all your other teeth, may also present several other complications that require their extraction.

There may not be sufficient space in your mouth to accommodate the new set of molars, even if you have been using orthodontic appliances, so the eruption of wisdom teeth may complicate. Patients may feel considerable levels of pain, impacted teeth can result in the development of abscesses, and these molars may not properly erupt, creating irregularities that collect food particles and harmful bacteria.

So yes, the eruption of these molars can significantly complicate your dental health, just not in the way most people fear. There are rare occasions where a patient does have sufficient space for their wisdom teeth, and even others never have these issues because their wisdom teeth never erupt. However, if your orthodontist counsels extraction of your wisdom teeth, it is because they want to help you avoid all the problems we mentioned before. An oral surgeon will perform the procedure, and you will be able to carry on without further complications.

So I should go for the dental braces?

Absolutely. Any patient receives the recommendation of wearing braces to help avoid problems like plaque build-up, collection of harmful bacteria around their teeth, suffering from cavities, developing pulp infections, gum disease, and maybe even losing a tooth. Dental braces are not just about getting a pretty smile. The purpose of using these orthodontic appliances is to maintain your oral health.

The reasons why you might need your wisdom teeth removed are similar. We want to help avoid tooth decay and infections, but it’s not about preventing the undoing of all the hard work you do with the orthodontist. Remember that the eruption of wisdom teeth is not a cause for overcrowding.

Our recommendation?

Visit your orthodontist as soon as you can. If you get early orthodontic treatment in Roanoke, you may not need to wear dental braces for so long later on. Once you complete your treatment, you will be happy to know that wisdom teeth are not going to ruin all that hard work.

We have an office located in Roanoke, Virginia, so if you live in this or any of the neighboring cities, we will be happy to welcome you and begin work to achieve that healthy smile you want.