In most cases, an orthodontist will recommend wisdom teeth removal before a patient undergoes braces or Invisalign treatment. However, sometimes, a patient’s wisdom teeth may erupt during braces or Invisalign treatment. If this occurs, an orthodontist may suggest the removal of braces or Invisalign if they believe the wisdom teeth will hinder the patient’s treatment plan.
Wisdom teeth have the potential to push newly straight teeth out of alignment after Invisalign treatment. Although not every patient will face difficulties while getting their wisdom teeth removed and wearing braces or Invisalign, adjustments may need to be made in some cases.
Since wisdom teeth extractions take one to two weeks to heal, aligners may need to be adjusted in order to account for swelling. An orthodontist may remake a few aligners or adjust the one a patient was wearing when their wisdom teeth were extracted.
In the event a patient’s extraction sites cause serious pain or infection, they may need to take a break from their aligner for a several days. To stay on track with their treatment goals, a patient may need to return to an earlier Invisalign aligner or wear their current one for an extra period of time.
As you can see, if possible, it’s best to remove wisdom teeth before receiving any orthodontic treatment. This way, there won’t be any delays in treatment and you won’t have to worry about undergoing two treatments at the same time.
Contact Gladwell Orthodontics
If you have questions related to braces or Invisalign after a tooth extraction or wisdom teeth removal, reach out to our office today at (919) 453-6325.
