Wisdom Teeth Extraction? Is it necessary?

[Chastity]

Hello, first time poster here I had a quick question. I went to my first consulation for my braces today and I'm really disappointed and more than a little nervous. I'm very old to be getting braces (26 y.o.) and I've that the longer you wait to get your wisdom teeth taken out the more difficult it will be. So the ortho told me that I should have the dental surgeon remove all 4 wisdom teeth along with the first molars (?....or are they called cuspids?)( both teeth immediately behind the canines). I've got some major overcrowding that has forced one of my front out a little bit. I included a pic just in case to give a visual. I'm thinking that if i had the 2 teeth in front removed why would I need my molars removed also? Any thoughts?

Here's my teeth. Bad I know! Front profile on the left. And my natural smile on right. All 4 of my molars have grown in I'd say 50-60% And they have grown in straight.

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome Chastity!

Firstly you're not very old for getting braces ... in fact you're quite young. Most adults who get braces are late 30's plus ... so you're a youngester among this group!

The removal of wisdom teeth should not be affected by how long you've had them. It's to do with where they are. By that I mean, if they're through the gum, or impacted (still in the gum), and how they're lying.

The teeth immediately behind the canines are usually referred to as first pre molars ... some use the term cuspids. Then it's the second pre molars, then the first molar, second molar and finally the third molar ... another name for wisdom teeth.

I'm not sure which teeth you're referring to when you write ... 'if i had the 2 teeth in front removed'. For orthodontic work, if any teeth need removing, it's usually the first pre molars as the gaps aren't as visable and they're not as large as the teeth behind them.

If you have concerns, talk to your orthodontist, and don't go ahead with any treatment, until you're totally comfortable with what you're being told to do!

Good luck!

[Chastity]

Thanks for the welcome Sunny. And yes, by the "front teeth" I mean the cuspids(pre-molars). I don't know if the pics helped but I'm sure you're able to see the crowding that I have. I was just under the assumption that with the wisdom teeth removed my teeth would then be able to adjust properly without having the 2 cuspids removed as well. There again I have no idea what should and should not happen so I may just be talking from complete lack of knowledge. But if it's all the same, I'd rather do either/or. I'm extremely adverse to dentists so if I can I'd like to go with as little work as necessary.

But ty for the info. and the welcome

[Sunny]

Chastity talk to your ortho about why he feels both sets of teeth need removing. It's a lot of work to move teeth back to the back of the jaw, and this treatment is usually avoided due to the time factor.

Good luck finding out more about your treatment, before you begin. Plus it's recommended that people have several consultations before deciding on a course of treatment, so please check out what another ortho would recommend if you're not happy with what you're being told.

Take care!

[Zoso]

The removal of wisdom teeth should not be affected by how long you've had them. It's to do with where they are. By that I mean, if they're through the gum, or impacted (still in the gum), and how they're lying.

Actually, Sunny, that's not true. Wisdom teeth are easier to remove when the patient is younger, because the roots will not yet be completely formed, and because the surrounding bone will be softer; there will be less chance of damaging nearby nerves or other structures. That said, by 26 the roots will pretty much be fully formed, so from that viewpoint it makes little difference whether you do this now or later. But when we are younger, we do tend to bounce back from illnesses or procedures faster.

My advice, in any case, since extractions are being recommended, would be to seek at least one more opinion. And do ask lots of questions. Then when you are confident in a given treatment plan, that is the time to move forward.

Hope all goes well for you

[braceyourself]

If you're concerned about being older when you have your wisdom teeth out, it's not as bad as it sounds. I was 26 when I had mine removed (4 impacted teeth, 3 of them never surfaced at all) and didn't have any complications (I had general anesthesia - or whatever it is when you're not conscious). I know several other people in their mid-late 20s who had their wisdom teeth removed without problems. Hope that helps!