A Little Wisdom About Wisdom Teeth

By Dr. Mary Kate Gavri

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the very last teeth at the back of your mouth. It is common for patients to have four wisdom teeth (two on the top and two on the bottom) but if you are lucky, you may have only one, two, three, or maybe none at all!

Most people do not have enough room in their mouths for their wisdom teeth to grow in fully and wisdom teeth have been known to have a mind of their own! It means that they like to grow in in all different directions and can become impacted. Unfortunately, if this is the case, problems can arise such as discomfort, damage to adjacent teeth, infection in the gums, pain in the joint, formation of cysts, or more. To prevent any unwanted outcomes, it is important that you have the proper radiographs taken by your dental professional at your check-ups. This will ensure that your overall dental health and health of your wisdom teeth stays in excellent shape. Depending on the situation, your dentist or orthodontist may recommend that you have your wisdom teeth extracted or that you keep them clean and healthy if they fit in your dental arch.

Deciding to embark on your orthodontic treatment journey is an exciting time for a patient. An aesthetically pleasing smile and a functional bite are two of the main reasons a patient may seek out treatment. Often times, as orthodontists, we are asked about how wisdom teeth will affect the longterm maintenance of a patient’s new smile.

It is a very common misconception that wisdom teeth remaining in the mouth can cause your new, beautifully straightened teeth, to shift. Many people believe that as wisdom teeth try to erupt and do not have enough room, they will consequently cause your other teeth to move out of the way becoming crowded and overlapped. It is easy to see why a patient would be concerned since this could potentially undo all the hard work the patient and orthodontist just put into treatment. Thankfully, research has shown that there is no correlation between third molars remaining in the mouth and hate crowding. Wisdom teeth do not exert enough pressure to move your teeth out of alignment. Therefore, removing these teeth solely for this concern is not justifiable. As orthodontists, we would say that you can rest easy at night and not worry about your wisdom teeth disrupting your smile…. but you better wear that retainer or your teeth will crowd over time whether you do or do not have your wisdom teeth!

Dr. Lindhorst, Dr. Darsey, Dr. Theriot, Dr. Gavri and the Heights Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Team