The wisdom teeth, or the third molars, are the last teeth to show up the mouth. They usually emerge at around age 17 to 25. Most of the time, they don’t cause problems, but when they become impacted, surgical removal usually becomes necessary. Another instance where wisdom teeth have to be removed is when you are planning to undergo orthodontic treatment. Asymptomatic impacted teeth may still have to be removed for a number of other reasons, the most important of which is ensuring your overall oral health. This articles focuses on the other things that you need to know about wisdom teeth and orthodontic treatment, and how they may affect one another.

 Problems Caused by Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth, if not removed, will eventually cause problems like pain, swelling, and headaches to name a few. Sometimes, there may even be a weird taste near the area of impaction, especially if the swelling is severe and there is pus formation already. As they try to erupt, these impacted teeth can also push the adjacent teeth out of the way and cause crowding.

How Your Wisdom Teeth Affect Orthodontic Treatment

The main reasons orthodontists recommend removal prior to any orthodontic work is because impacted teeth will only interfere with the treatment. If you are not yet ready to have them removed prior to the orthodontic treatment then you may also ask to have the surgery after. Overall, be sure to proceed with the removal, as failure to do so can result to the relapse or recurrence of crowding after the treatment.

To Remove or Not?

Because every individual and their respective cases is different, it’s always best to ask your orthodontist for further advice about your wisdom teeth, whether or not to remove them and when. Depending on the circumstances, some dentist may offer a conservative approach especially if the tooth is asymptomatic, interrupted, and free of any other problems. In other words, instead of removing the impacted teeth right away, your dentist will just monitor them and do the removal only when the need arises.

Now some experts may argue that only a very small amount of crowding is produced by impacted teeth and that it may not be worth the complications brought about by surgically removing them. In other words, if your impacted teeth aren’t causing any trouble, then it is best to just leave them alone.

When to Remove

If your impacted wisdom teeth are indicated for removal, one important thing to determine is when the right time for the procedure is. Most orthodontists recommend removal before the age of 25 to reduce the risk of complications associated with the surgery. At 25, final growth has been completed and the jaw bones are significantly denser.

Orthodontists often base their decision on patient’s individual circumstances. If you require orthodontic treatment and you wish to know if you also need your wisdom teeth removed, it is best to consult your orthodontist for some professional advice.