The third set of molars, or wisdom teeth, normally erupts between the ages of 17 and 25, depending on the individual. While they can be a valuable addition to your dental anatomy, they can also significantly cause problems if your mouth is overcrowded due to orthodontic treatment.
Remember to keep up with your regular dental visits, where specialists can easily monitor the growth of your wisdom teeth in Gresham, Oregon. While extracting these molars may sound intimidating, the surgery is straightforward and can help set your mouth up for a bright and healthy future.
Let’s explore more!
# What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the final to appear in your mouth. While some people have enough space for these teeth to come in properly, others may experience impaction, which occurs when the wisdom teeth do not have enough room to grow and become trapped beneath the gum line. This can cause pain, swelling, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth and gums.
# How do wisdom teeth affect orthodontic treatment?
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Crowding:
When wisdom teeth try to erupt in a crowded mouth, they can push on the adjacent teeth and cause them to shift out of place. This can undo months or even years of orthodontic work and require additional treatment to correct.
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Impaction:
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause gum pain, inflammation, and swelling, making it difficult to wear braces or aligners comfortably. Additionally, if the impacted tooth is pushing on other teeth or the jawbone, it can interfere with the movement of your teeth and slow down your treatment progress.
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Oral hygiene:
During orthodontic treatment, wisdom teeth might make it more difficult to keep your teeth and gums clean. Food particles and bacteria can get trapped around the wisdom teeth, leading to decay, gum disease, and bad breath. This can also affect the alignment of your teeth and the success of your orthodontic treatment.
# What can you do to prevent complications?
If you are getting orthodontic treatment, your dentist or orthodontist may advise you to have your wisdom teeth extracted to avoid difficulties. This is especially true if you have impacted wisdom teeth or a crowded mouth. Removing your wisdom teeth can help:
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Preserve orthodontic progress:
By removing your wisdom teeth, you can prevent them from interfering with the movement of your other teeth and protect the progress you’ve made with braces or aligners.
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Prevent infection:
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infection and inflammation in the gums, affecting your oral health and slowing your orthodontic treatment. Removing them can help prevent these complications.
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Improve oral hygiene:
Removing your wisdom teeth can make cleaning your teeth and gums easier during orthodontic treatment, reducing the risk of decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, you must watch your wisdom teeth and talk to the best dentist in Gresham if you experience discomfort or complications. Wisdom teeth and orthodontics can affect each other in several ways, from crowding and impaction to oral hygiene and infection.
