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Do Wisdom Teeth Cause Crowding?

by Michael Abdoney - 08/23/2018 -crowding,Orthodontics,Orthodontist Tampa FL

For background, humans have 20 baby teeth and 32 permanent teeth (including wisdom teeth). This means that your the teeth from the premolars forward had baby teeth predecessors and all of your molars did not. When you lose a baby tooth it happens because a permanent tooth is in the process of erupting into that space. That permanent tooth eats away at the root of the baby tooth, causing it to be loose and eventually fall out. At least, that’s what normally happens.

Don’t worry, if a baby tooth isn’t falling out it doesn’t mean that your teeth are “abnormal”! ? There are a couple of situations in which these stubborn baby teeth just need a little attention:

    • 1) If the permanent tooth is erupting a little off-course, the baby tooth can’t fall out on it’s own. In these cases, the baby tooth should be removed by a dentist in a timely manner to allow the permanent tooth to come in either on its own or with the help of an orthodontist.
    • 2) Your pediatric dentist may have told you that you’re missing a permanent tooth or a few! This most commonly happens with upper lateral incisors (side front teeth) and the lower second premolars (they are meant to be replaced by the furthest back baby molar).

If you’re missing a lateral incisor, the baby tooth that’s present probably won’t last your whole life. Doctors Abdoney and Cronauer may determine that the best course of action be to a) remove the baby tooth and close the space orthodontically b) temporarily keep the baby tooth and have it built up/restored by a dentist to give it a proper size c) extract the baby tooth and plan to have it replaced by an implant or bridge.

If you’re missing a premolar or canine, the baby tooth does have a good chance of lasting for many years. Your orthodontist will be able to give you the best bite possible, which may not involve removing it. If you do hang on to your baby tooth, there is a chance that the roots resorb and disappear later in life, in which case it’s usually best to replace it with an implant or bridge when you get to that point.

Have Doctor Abdoney or Cronauer take a look at the stubborn baby tooth in your family: it might need a little help coming out! ?

Do Wisdom Teeth Cause Crowding?

jessica Orthodontics, Orthodontist Tampa FL

Do you need to get your wisdom teeth pulled for orthodontic treatment? This topic has been one of controversy among dentists and orthodontists. Before discussing it, I’d like to first talk about some of the reasons why it may be beneficial to have them removed that aren’t related to the alignment of your teeth.

A wisdom tooth, also called a 3rd molar, that’s partially erupted or that’s fully impacted at an angle may affect the health of the 2nd molars in your mouth. Partial eruptions and eruptions at an improper angle typically happen because a) there’s insufficient space in the jaw for the wisdom tooth b) the developing wisdom tooth is formed at an angle c) the wisdom tooth is stuck under the molar in front of it. In many cases, these situations can cause a deep gum pocket behind the second molar or around the wisdom tooth which traps harmful bacteria that lead to gum disease, bone loss, or tooth decay. If the gum around the wisdom tooth is swollen, painful, or puffy, bring this to the attention of your general dentist or orthodontist.

In rare instances, different types of cysts can develop around an impacted wisdom tooth. (A cyst is a fluid-filled cavity.) Depending on the cellular makeup of the cyst, it could be not harmful or it could lead to further bone destruction. A sample of the cells is usually needed to make a definitive diagnosis IF you do have a cyst around a wisdom tooth. In which case, the tooth is usually removed and the cells sampled at the same time.

All that being said, there are risks to removing wisdom teeth, so it shouldn’t be assumed that it needs to be done before any issues develop. Could dental crowding be one of these issues? Some dental literature suggests the wisdom teeth could contribute to crowding. However, other research has shown that crowding develops around the time wisdom teeth come in (age 18-22) whether or not the wisdom teeth are present. Ultimately, crowding is caused by multiple factors and research doesn’t show conclusively that the presence of wisdom teeth is one of them!