Wisdom Teeth

Once your braces are removed, Dr. Martin will continue monitoring your smile and retainers at least once a year. An evaluation of the development of your wisdom teeth will be made at each retainer check appointment. A panoramic X-ray will be made in order to verify that you have wisdom teeth, and if so, if there enough space in your mouth for them to come in.

Most of the time, jaw bones are just too small to allow the wisdom teeth to erupt and be beneficial in chewing. If that is the case, the wisdom tooth will remain impacted (stuck in the gums) or erupt partially. A partially erupted wisdom tooth leaves an opening where bacteria can enter.

Because it is impossible to clean under the flap of gum, this puts your wisdom tooth at high risk for cavities and chronic infections. A chronic infection can potentially lead to bone loss in the area, affecting the support of your adjacent molars. Wisdom teeth can also damage adjacent teeth by leaning forward against them, making it impossible to remove plaque and food debris. Occasionally, impacted wisdom teeth may develop into a cyst. Cysts can actually shift teeth, destroy bone and damage adjacent teeth.

If Dr. Martin has any concern with the development of your wisdom teeth, he might decide to refer you to your dentist or oral surgeon for their removal. Currently, there is no proof that wisdom teeth are responsible for teeth shifting after orthodontic treatment. However, we may suggest that your wisdom teeth be removed before any problem develops.

The late teens and early twenties have been shown to be the ideal age to remove wisdom teeth. At a young age, the removal of wisdom teeth is easier, since the bone is softer and the roots of the wisdom teeth are not yet fully developed. This is usually done for a preventive matter, avoiding painful or more complicated removal that might have to be done later on. The older you are when you get your wisdom teeth removed, the longer the recovery and healing process tends to be.