You’ve been patiently waiting for your orthodontic treatment to come to an end and your braces to come off. You followed all the oral hygiene instructions during and after treatment, but now your wisdom teeth are starting to come in. Will they ruin your new smile?
At Weber Orthodontics, we get this question a lot and rightfully so. With the typical timeline for orthodontic treatment being between about 18 and 36 months, we understand that it would be very disappointing for all that hard work to go to waste. In some very rare cases, the eruption of wisdom teeth can shift the teeth and ruin past orthodontic treatment, but again, this is rare. This is why it is important to maintain a relationship with an orthodontist, like Dr. Ashlee Weber, even after treatment has ended. Once your wisdom teeth do come in, it can be determined if they need to be removed or not.
About Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last of the permanent teeth to erupt and typically occur between the ages of 17 and 25 for most people. While most people have them removed, it is not always necessary. In some cases, many people have plenty of room for their wisdom teeth to develop just fine. In other cases, there isn’t enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth to grow – causing them to partially erupt or become impacted. In situations like this, the wisdom teeth should be removed to avoid causing further issues to the rest of the teeth.
It is important to note that as we age, our teeth begin to shift. Just as aging affects the rest of our body, it also affects our teeth. As we age unwanted changes occur, such as our skin becoming less tight and our muscles becoming less tone. In terms of our face and teeth, this causing a collapse in the front and typically causes our lower front teeth to crowd as we age. This is why wearing a retainer after orthodontic treatment is so important.
How Weber Orthodontics Can Help
Immediately following orthodontic treatment, we highly recommend wearing your retainer as prescribed after getting your braces removed. It is the best way to keep the teeth in their intended places after orthodontic treatment. For more information on wisdom teeth and braces or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact our office.
At Weber Orthodontics, we care about your kids’ health, and want their first dental experiences to be good ones. We offer traditional, clear, and Invisalign braces. Contact our office by phone (816) 746-1200 or complete our appointment request form to schedule an appointment.