The problem with wisdom teeth is that often times there isn't enough room for the tooth to erupt properly so it erupts partially and traps food and bacteria. Due to its position being all the way back it is hard to clean it effectively, keeping impacted wisdom teeth risks damage to the second molar that lies in front of it.
However, not everyone has this problem and it is best to discuss with your dentist/orthodontist if this is the case for you.
There are other instances where wisdom teeth removal is needed for orthodontic treatment, these include:
- Impacted second molar requiring uprighting and the wisdom teeth are obstructing this correction
- Your dentist/orthodontist is planning distalisation for your treatment. Distalisation is a technique used to move teeth backwards into the wisdom teeth space.
- Tooth decay may be present on either the wisdom tooth or the second molar in front of it, hence the removal of the wisdom tooth is necessary before a proper filling can be done on the second molar.
- You have an anterior open bite and the wisdom teeth is wedging the bite open more, removing the wisdom teeth will help to close the anterior open bite.
However, not everyone presents with these conditions, so it is best to consult your dentist/orthodontist, tell them your concerns and if there is no direct impact on your dentist's/orthodontist's treatment plan then it would be ok to delay the removal.
