Post Braces & Wisdom Teeth Removal with Shifting Teeth
Many patients experience teeth shifting with both their upper and lower front teeth during their late teens or as young adults. Sometimes the teeth were very well aligned teeth before, and then it is easy to blame the wisdom teeth for these changes, because this is the time when they usually tend to erupt. But there are many other factors that can affect the position of teeth.
Your teeth are positioned and secured in living tissue and changing bone, and not set in concrete. This means that teeth positions and shifts can be affected by any or a combination of:
- Late lower jaw growth which can lead to the inward tipping of the lower front teeth.
- Changes in the elasticity of your cheeks and lips or pressure from your tongue.
- The loss of gum tissue or bony support for your teeth through gum disease.
The frequent and common assumption is that the wisdom teeth place pressure on the other teeth, which eventually leads to the front teeth becoming more crowded as we age. But research has proved that wisdom teeth are not the primary cause of dental crowding.
Up to 25% of people are missing their wisdom teeth from birth yet they still develop the same crowding later in life. Removing wisdom teeth does not guarantee that the front teeth will remain straight. Due to the misconceptions around wisdom teeth, these molars are often blamed for dental crowding, even when research states otherwise.
Do Teeth Shift Back After Braces?
By not effectively using your retainer after your brace’s treatment, your teeth have an extraordinarily strong chance of shifting back and undoing the work of your orthodontic treatment. Your braces correct teeth placement by applying subtle pressure on your teeth that slowly shifts them into the desired alignment, so when your braces are removed there is always the chance that your teeth will return back to their original position. The amount of movement is completely unpredictable and can differ from person to person.
This is why wearing your retainer per your dentist’s instructions is important. Wearing your retainer regularly will help keep your perfectly aligned teeth in place post-treatment. If you engage in contact sports, then we recommend that you wear a mouthguard to protect your straightened teeth.
How Do You Know if Your Teeth Are Shifting?
If you are concerned about your teeth shifting, there are different signs that you can watch for, which include:
- A midline shift is when the line between your two front and lower teeth does not line up properly and are not aligned with the center of your nose and eyebrows.
- Gum bleeding can be a sign of periodontal problems, which will increase the likelihood of teeth shifting.
- Gaps between your teeth are a common and easy-to-spot sign that your teeth are shifting. Gaps can also be a sign of developing periodontal problems.
- If you experience more tooth sensitivity than usual, this could indicate shifting teeth.
- If your retainer is uncomfortable or fits poorly, then that is a sign that your teeth have shifted, as your dentist will custom make your retainer to fit your teeth perfectly.
If you would like to learn more about teeth shifting and Invisalign treatment, reach out today.