wisdom teeth moving teeth

[Beena]

Dear dentist, my 19 year old daughter’s wisdom teeth are coming through. She had braces for almost two years when she was younger and her teeth were beautifully straight after the brace treatment finished. I am concerned her wisdom teeth will put pressure on her other teeth causing her other teeth to move out of line, perhaps even cause tooth crookedness. Should she have her wisdom teeth extracted to prevent this? Are there any risks in removing these wisdom teeth now?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Beena

Wisdom teeth normally erupt between the ages of 18 and 25. If there is shortage of space in the mouth the wisdom teeth may become partially or completely impacted. In some cases the wisdom teeth can push the adjacent teeth and cause tooth crookedness. If this is the case it is better to have the wisdom teeth removed. It is also better to have the wisdom teeth removed at a younger age as the procedure will have fewer complications. There are some general risks with removing wisdom teeth and some case specific risks. Following a consultation and assessment the surgeon will inform you of the risks involved in having your wisdom teeth removed. Removal of wisdom teeth is not a requirement for invisalign orthodontic treatment.