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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Is it essential to have wisdom teeth out after removing braces?

    Related Topics
    Dentistry Oral Health
    My daughter had braces for 18 months, she has had them off for approx 3 years, wearing her retainer as stated by the orthodontist for 2 years. Approx 1 year later of not wearing her retainer her bottom teeth became a little crooked.

    The orthodontist advised to persevere and wear her retainer continuously for a two week period. Although it hurt as her retainer did not fit correctly anymore, after 2 weeks her teeth moulded back to the retainer and became straight.

    However, one of her front bottom teeth is now loose. She contacted the orthodontist who advised that her tooth/teeth will continue to loosen and may end of falling out if she does not have her wisdom teeth out.

    I would like to know your thoughts on this, it is very upsetting for her.
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    Dr Rohan Wijey

    Dentist

    Dr Wijey was born in Sydney, and then moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland, where he graduated from Griffith University in Dentistry in 2009. At … View Profile

    The research shoes that wisdome teeth have NO impact on crooked teeth or relapse. The consensus is that this is an outdated view.

    The reason why the bottom tooth is loose is likely because the muscular causes of crooked teeth (an inccorect swallow) are moving the teeth in one direction during the day, while at night the retainer is moving these in another. This places a lot of stress on the surroudning structures of the teeth.

    Please visit Myobrace.com to find your nearest Myobrace practitioner who can use an appliance to fix these muscular causes very easily.

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    Dr Kevin Jaffar

    Dentist

    Jaffar Dental - Trusted and Established since 1997. We are a family owned General Dental Practice offering a friendly and caring environment in Waterford QLD. … View Profile

    Not essential but often needed as normally there is not enough room for wisdom teeth.

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    Agree

    Dr Roland Chong

    Dentist

    Wisdom teeth are not always extracted after orthodontic treatment. They are not ncessarily the cause of other teeth moving either. These teeth are often extracted if there is insufficient room for their eruption into the mouth.

    The front tooth becoming loose MAY be a result of pressure from the retainer. Often if you place teeth under pressure they will tend to loosen a little but the force must be persistent and significant enough for the tooth to come out entirely. Often teeth which loosen due to light forces will tend to firm up once the force applied is removed. 

    The causes to the tooth becoming mobile needs to be assesed clinically and I would recommend you seek a second opinion for peace of mind and for a more informed decision.

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  • 1

    Agree

    6

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    Dr Tom Oliver

    Dentist, Orthodontist, Orthotist

    At Oliver Orthodontics, the full range of modern orthodontic services are available: Invisalign ‘invisible’ braces, Incognito, lingual braces, clear braces, standard braces, removable appliances, and … View Profile

    The evidence regarding wisdom teeth and crowding of the lower incisors demonstrates between groups that have wisdom teeth that are present, absent or impacted. Hence it is unusual to recommend the extraction of the wisdom teeth purely for maintaining straight lower teeth, and certain the extraction of the wisdom teeth will not alter the mobility of the lower incisors.
     
    The mobility of the lower incisor is not unexpected after the reinsertion of the retainer. The mobility is simply due to the supporting tissues of the tooth adapting to the difference forces that have been applied to the tooth.  Once these forces reduce back to a normal level then the tooth with return to it’s normal mobility.  If your daughter finds that the tooth continues to be more mobile (assuming that the tooth is healthy) then there is likely to be a bite issue with the tooth and you need to see your orthodontist to check that the bite is satisfactory.  
     
    I would strongly suggest that while the tongue and the swallowing pattern can be responsible for movement of the lower teeth, this is only one factor of many that cause movement of the lower incisors. There is little evidence that a myofunctional appliance can change the muscular forces especially in a late adolescent individual.
     
    My recommendation is discuss the movement with your orthodontist and if you are uncomfortable with their response then get a second opinion from another specialist orthodontist.

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    Dr Rohan Wijey

    Dentist

    Dr Wijey was born in Sydney, and then moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland, where he graduated from Griffith University in Dentistry in 2009. At … View Profile

    According to the Australia Society of Orthodontists, unless abnormal tongue habits are corrected, an “open bite is likely to recur” and anterior “spacing is likely to recur”. The lower lip is also recognised as being a potential cause of “protruded teeth”.

    There is actually good evidence through studies using electomyography to show that myofunctional appliances do indeed change muscular function. There is also good evidence to show that traditional orthodontics can cause teeth to be mobile and lead to loss of teeth, death of nerves in teeth etc. (http://aso.org.au/Docs/Orthodontics/Risks.htm).

    My recommendation is that if a certain approach hasn't worked the first time around, it amounts to simple logic to seek another approach.http://www.aso.org.au/Docs/Orthodontics/Orthodontic%20Problems/open_bite.htmhttp://www.aso.org.au/Docs/Orthodontics/Orthodontic%20Problems/spaced_teeth.htmhttp://www.aso.org.au/Docs/Orthodontics/Orthodontic%20Problems/protruded_teeth.htm

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