Most people undergo orthodontic or teeth braces treatment during their early teens. At this time, the wisdom teeth are not fully formed and so do not erupt in the mouth. But, when the wisdom teeth erupt, they tend to put force and pressure on the teeth in front of them and this leads to crowding in the back teeth region of the jaw. So, a well-aligned smile that has been corrected by orthodontics or is naturally well- aligned, tends to become improper with the eruption of wisdom teeth.
In some cases where the wisdom teeth erupt during the orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist evaluates the space needed for it to erupt, its angulation and the potential path of eruption. This helps the orthodontist decide whether they need to be removed or be allowed to erupt.
So, a thorough examination of X-rays before, during and after treatment is important to understand the position and stage of the eruption of wisdom teeth. Visiting your orthodontist once a year even after your treatment is completed helps to prevent any damage that wisdom teeth can have on your teeth alignment.
In a few cases where the wisdom teeth are fully erupted and are healthy, they are used as additional support teeth for orthodontic treatment. Considering orthodontic treatment options? Learn more about the benefits and costs of treatments, including clear aligners cost, invisible teeth aligners and tooth braces cost.