Wisdom Teeth

Myths and Truths About Orthodontics: “Wisdom Teeth: Do They Cause My Teeth to Go Crooked?

I am sure many of you certainly have heard that Wisdom Teeth NEED to be removed or else your teeth will shift especially after orthodontic treatment. All that beautiful orthodontic work and cost goes “down the drain”. Even if a person had naturally straight teeth and never needed braces, the removal of impacted Wisdom Teeth is many times recommended to avoid shifting of the teeth in the future.

The Myth: The presence of Wisdom teeth WILL cause the teeth to shift.

The Truth: Maybe, but it is unlikely to be the only or primary reason you would notice your teeth shifting over time. This is true whether you or your children have had braces or not.

What is the most likely reason teeth will shift after braces? Answer: Not wearing your retainers as instructed by your Orthodontist. Over the past 30 years that I have been an Orthodontist; I have recommended longer and longer retainer maintenance following the completion of orthodontic care. It is now my recommendation for my patients to wear or at least make sure their retainers still fit indefinitely.

Why is that? It is easier to understand if I use an analogy I have used for years now. When we straighten the teeth, we are changing the natural original genetic way your body has developed. By doing so, we are creating an improved bite and healthier, easier to clean teeth not to mention a beautiful smile. Consequently your overall dental health is improved. The exact same thing occurs when one goes to a gym and works out to “get in shape”. You work very hard to achieve the new healthier “in-shape” you. Once you have reached your “new body”, what happens if you then never go back to that gym for a maintenance workout? You revert to the “old” out of shape self, right? We all know that one must continue those workouts to “retain” your new body design. Orthodontic Retainers are just like that maintenance workout at that gym. The retainers keep nature from returning your teeth to that original genetically determined crooked position.

I have patients I have treated 20 to 25 years ago that still wear their retainers at night or at least try them in periodically. If they fit tight, they will wear the retainers for a week or so to reset the teeth back exactly where they were when I finished their braces. With this simple maintenance “workout” with a Retainer their smile is still perfect after all these years regardless of the Wisdom Teeth.

Here’s another thought for you: Have you ever known someone who did have their Wisdom Teeth removed and still watched their teeth shift over the years anyway? Why is that? Because, in my opinion, the Wisdom Teeth are not the primary factor teeth shift over time but rather it is a result of human evolution. Thousands of years ago, the teeth would wear down very significantly over a person’s lifetime due to the type of diets and ancient uses required of the teeth. This wear would potentially have caused spaces between the thinning teeth. The human mouth evolved a process that the teeth would shift forward as they would wear down to close together the spaces that would have formed. As the wear occurred and the teeth in the mouth drifted forward to stay touching each other, space would accumulate in the back of the mouth. Lo and behold, in would come a Wisdom Tooth and replace the chewing surface which had worn away. This whole process does not need to happen anymore because we simply do not wear down our teeth as our ancestors did.

Do I recommend the removal of Wisdom Teeth? Yes- absolutely because if Wisdom Teeth are never going to come in and function as teeth, they have no redeeming value and only cause problems. No matter what those problems may be.

The Solution to keep your teeth straight for a lifetime after braces is wearing your retainer, period.