Wisdom teeth, and however they may affect your teeth alignment, are always a cause for concern to responsible parents who only want what’s best for their kids. True, we orthodontists always recommend you bring your kids to a qualified specialist by age 7, but that does little to dissuade the concerns many parents have about the efficiency and effectiveness of orthodontics.
Don’t worry; we’ll try our best to explain why you shouldn’t be worried about wisdom teeth, the real complications associated with third molars, and what you should do to ensure your child has the best life possible.
Dr. Santiago Surrillo offers kids in El Cajon dual-specialty care to make them feel as welcome, safe, and well cared for as possible. He specializes in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, meaning your child will receive age-appropriate treatment and have the opportunity to enjoy good dental development as they age.
Let’s check what happens with Your kids’ third molars and when you should bring them for treatment.
Can Wisdom Teeth Shift Braces?
Fortunately no. We know; this may come as a complete surprise to many of our readers, considering just how many myths there are and all the misinformation on the Internet, but please trust us when we say that wisdom teeth do not cause crooked teeth. In fact, you don’t have to trust us; you can check out this study by Italian specialists who determined that third molar extraction had no significant impact on the prevention of anterior crowding.
Wisdom teeth can cause several problems to a patient, but not dental crowding. Your kid can complete their orthodontic treatment and not worry about all their progress being undone by their third molars’ eruption.
Should I Get Braces Before or After my Wisdom Teeth?
We strongly recommend you bring your child as soon as possible and get your kid braces before their wisdom teeth erupt. As you may know, Dr. Surillo loves that, at Children’s Braces and Dentistry, he and the team have the chance to help children and their dental development. One of our guidelines includes recommendations from the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), which states children should visit an orthodontist by age 7.
As we mentioned above, your kids’ wisdom teeth won’t cause any crowding. Besides, third molars may not erupt until a patient is anywhere between 17 to 21. Waiting until after the molars erupt means wasting valuable time that could otherwise serve orthodontics and make the treatment much smoother.
As kids grow, their bones develop and move around. Your kids’ orthodontist can leverage these natural movements to gradually, easily, and safely move the patient’s teeth around to a new position without meeting too much resistance from hardened bone tissue.
Set an appointment with our team and help your child achieve the best version possible of their smile.
Can an Orthodontist Remove Wisdom Teeth?
No. Orthodontists are specialists in tooth alignment, and though every dental health professional can perform tooth extractions, only maxillofacial surgeons have the certification and necessary experience in performing delicate and invasive surgical procedures in the orofacial region. Dr. Surillo can sure do a lot when it comes to specialized treatment, but if there’s one thing that’s true about all good dental health professionals, it’s that we don’t overreach and go beyond our field of expertise.
Ideally, your orthodontist will have begun your kid’s treatment at an early age and be done with braces by the time wisdom teeth erupt or present symptoms that necessitate extraction. Still, even if your child is going through orthodontics by the time wisdom teeth extraction is necessary, we can easily remove the molars without any need to remove the brackets or interrupt treatment.
Can I Get Wisdom Teeth Removed While Having Braces?
Yes. Absolutely yes. Coordination between an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon means you can continue your treatment as usual and have your wisdom teeth extracted without any unwanted delays to the realignment of your teeth.
The procedure is fairly simple, and you may be in and out of the tooth extraction appointment in a single day, depending on what the specialists tell you. The team will have to sedate the area at least and surgically remove the molars. You won’t have to interrupt your treatment to remove your wisdom teeth.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Fortunately, even though this is an invasive procedure and every surgical treatment has some risks, you can expect recovery anywhere between 3 to 7 days. Keep in mind that the wound might not close entirely until a much longer time, so you’ll have to continue paying close attention to your oral hygiene and everything you eat to avoid increasing the risk of infections in the area. Ask your dentist about proper home care and continue with your frequent visits to ensure the best results possible.
Get in Touch With Your El Cajon Orthodontist
Dr. Surillo and the team at Children’s Braces and Dentistry want to help your kid have the best smile possible. Get in touch with our team to learn more about the ways in which we can achieve just that. Set an appointment and give us a visit.