Should I remove my wisdom teeth and then get Invisalign

[Rosemary]

Hi

I have crowded teeth which I think started to become crowded after my wisdom teeth started to come through and started to push on my other teeth into a more crowded situation.

Gradually the crowding has become worst and I have now decided that I wish to fix my crowded teeth and get them to become more straight and natural looking.

I would like to know if I should remove my wisdom teeth first and then get Invisalign or should I start invisalign and then have my wisdom teeth removed after the treatment is finished?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Rosemary,

It is not a requirement to have wisdom teeth removed before invisalign treatment is started. It will depend on the individual case. In some cases it is necessary to move the back teeth further back and in these cases removal of the wisdom teeth is necessary.

There is no strong evidence to link the arrival of the wisdom teeth with crowding of the front teeth. There is evidence for and against this.

If you have pain or discomfort from your wisdom teeth then you should have them removed before starting invisalign. However if your wisdom teeth do not cause you problems then its best to leave them and complete the invisalign treatment. Retainers should be worn after invisalign which will stop any relapse or the possibility of wisdom teeth pushing the rest of the teeth.

You can always have your wisdom teeth removed after invisalign if it becomes necessary.