Post Braces & Wisdom Teeth Removal with Shifting Teeth
It is not uncommon for teeth to shift throughout a person’s life. This is normal and expected, especially as we progress in age and the jaw bone structure changes. Our teeth can also change position as a result of tooth loss, jaw growth (in children), gum disease, and orthodontic treatment (like Invisalign). There are steps you can take to prevent teeth shifting which could be beneficial because straight teeth are not only an aesthetic factor, straight teeth are healthier and easier to keep clean than crooked and overlapping teeth.
Shifting Teeth After Orthodontic Treatment
Our teeth have a deep-seated desire to go back from whence they came! When we undergo orthodontic treatment, the teeth are pushed and pulled and rotated into alignment. Once treatment is complete and the braces or clear aligners come off, our teeth try to shift back to their original position. This is why retainers are so important to successful orthodontic treatment and maintaining the newly established alignment.
During orthodontic treatment, the pressure put on the teeth causes the gum tissue and jaw bone to soften, allowing the teeth to be moved. Once treatment is over, it takes a while for the gum tissue and jaw bone to strengthen back up. The retainer helps keep the teeth stable while that process takes place so your orthodontist will likely have you wearing your retainer all day every day for a few months until your teeth are stable, then you can dial it back and only wear your retainer while you sleep!
Your orthodontist may give you the option of having a fixed retainer which is a small wire that is cemented onto the back surface of your front teeth. This is beneficial if you do not want to wear your removable retainer but it is hard to floss around and can accumulate plaque build up pretty quickly.
Shifting Teeth After Wisdom Teeth Removal
When a tooth is extracted or otherwise lost, the remaining teeth tend to shift in an effort to close the space. When you have a tooth extracted with the intention of replacing it, your dentist will have you wear an appliance that will maintain the open space. And the same can happen with wisdom tooth extraction. The wisdom teeth are often removed in adolescents who are about to undergo orthodontic treatment but for patients who have their wisdom teeth removed and are not having orthodontic treatment, they may experience shifting teeth with all of the new-found space in the jaw.
Some minor shifting is not likely to cause any issues but any amount of shifting can lead to crowded and overlapping teeth which can eventually cause malocclusion (a bad bite) and can make eating and speaking painful.
If you are concerned about shifting teeth, speak with your dentist to see what options are available to help you maintain your teeth alignment.