Do Wisdom Teeth Cause Your Front Teeth to Crowd?
You have probably heard that wisdom teeth push your front teeth together. It is one of the most common beliefs in dentistry, and it has a surprising origin.
In 1961, orthodontist Dr. Leroy Vego published a study, “A Longitudinal Study of Mandibular Arch Perimeter,” looking at the role of wisdom teeth in lower front-tooth crowding. Following patients ages 13 to 19 over six years, he found more crowding in patients who had wisdom teeth and concluded that an erupting lower wisdom tooth could exert force on the teeth in front of it. From there, the idea spread that wisdom teeth “push” the front teeth, and removing them became a common recommendation to prevent crowding after braces.
What Later Research Found
Later studies told a more complete story. Research tracking patients for up to 25 years found that teeth tend to drift forward throughout life whether or not a person has wisdom teeth, and whether or not they ever had orthodontic treatment. Aging, tooth size, tooth shape, and the original position of the teeth all play a significant role in crowding. In other words, wisdom teeth are not the main culprit, and removing them purely to prevent front-tooth crowding is no longer considered necessary.
So When Should Wisdom Teeth Come Out?
The timing of removal still matters, especially for impacted wisdom teeth that do not have room to come in properly. Left in place, problem wisdom teeth can cause:
- Bone and soft-tissue defects behind the second molars
- Root damage to the neighboring molars
- Decay, because they are hard to brush and floss
- Crowding or shifting of the back teeth that can affect orthodontic results
- Infection around a partially erupted tooth
- Cysts or other growths around impacted teeth
Because of these risks, removal is often recommended in the late teens through the early twenties, ideally before problems develop. There is also a practical reason to act earlier: as teens finish growing, the jawbone becomes denser, which can mean more discomfort after removal once the roots are fully formed. After about age 25, wisdom teeth are usually just monitored by your general dentist with periodic X-rays rather than routinely removed.
We Watch for This During Treatment
Dr. Iezman monitors wisdom-tooth development throughout your orthodontic treatment and will let you know if and when removal is worth discussing, based on your individual situation. Any extractions would be handled by your dentist or an oral surgeon, coordinated with your orthodontic care. If you have crowding concerns, our common problems page explains how we treat them, and our early treatment page covers planning for growing smiles.
Have Questions About Wisdom Teeth?
We are glad to help. Call Berkeley Family Orthodontics at (510) 849-3613 or request an appointment online. Our office is at 2999 Regent Street, Suite 408, in Berkeley’s Elmwood neighborhood.