Wisdom teeth (third molars) make straight teeth go crooked – true or false?
Many people have observed that at the end of the teenage the lower front teeth go a little crooked even if the orthodontic treatment had obtained a good alignment, and sometimes even when a ‘straight set of front teeth had grown naturally and no orthodontics was carried out. This happens at about the same time that third molar teeth typically grow in the mouth – so the two events became associated. Some orthodontists started to recommend taking out wisdom teeth to prevent further movement of the lower incisors. However careful experimentation and long term follow up has proved this is incorrect – because if the wisdom teeth are surgically removed around age 12, or if they are missing from birth , there is still a measurable shift in the incisor positions in the late teenage. In fact very long term studies show that our teeth move throughout life. The only proven way to guarantee the lower incisors will remain straight is to continue some form of retention. – the moral of this story is
Related Questions
- I had my wisdom teeth (3rd molars) extracted a year ago and is it possible to use that space where they were to uncrowd my crooked front teeth?
- Do third molars (wisdom teeth) interfere in the position of the inferior incisors?
- Wisdom teeth (third molars) make straight teeth go crooked - true or false?
