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Wisdom teeth and tooth movement is one of the most frequent questions in consultation: patients who notice progressive crowding in the anterior teeth, especially the lower ones, and attribute this displacement to the pressure of the third molars that are erupting or have already erupted. The relationship between both phenomena is real but much more complex than commonly believed.
The fear that wisdom teeth might “undo” previous orthodontics leads many patients to request their preventive extraction as a safety measure. However, scientific evidence does not support that wisdom teeth are the primary cause of dental crowding in adults, and extracting them does not guarantee that teeth will not move.
At Asensio Dental Clinic, Dr. Lucía Asensio Romero (Registration No. 46002287) evaluates the position of wisdom teeth with a 3D scanner and digital orthopantomography to determine if there is a real indication for extraction in each case. The first visit is completely free.
Are wisdom teeth the ones that move the rest?
The doubt about whether wisdom teeth move or displace other teeth is a topic we hear at Asensio Advanced Dentistry continuously for many years. The question comes from patients who are noticing progressive crowding in their teeth, even if they have had orthodontics before. At Asensio Advanced Dentistry, your dental clinic in Valencia, we want to answer this question as simply as possible, as it is a somewhat controversial topic based on each dentist’s professional judgment.
There is a belief that wisdom teeth, when they “collide” due to poor growth, can crowd the front teeth. This theory has not been proven.
Then, why do I notice my teeth are moving?
The reality is that, unfortunately, there are many factors that cause dental crowding.
These are some of the most important causes:
Mandibular growth:
The jaw continues to grow into adulthood, which can cause the lower teeth to shift and crowd progressively.
Changes in connective tissue:
Due to age or periodontal disease, we can lose a small part of the bone structure, which can facilitate tooth movement under pressures they previously withstood.
Genetics:
It is one of the most important factors. Maxillofacial evolution, tooth size, jaw length and width, etc., largely condition the displacement of teeth.
From our experience, our professional judgment indicates that wisdom teeth are the least of the causes of dental displacement and/or crowding. In addition to the factors mentioned, there are other causes (mandibular rotation, occlusal factors, supernumerary teeth, etc.). Even assuming the molars exert great pressure on the rest, many of these have an anchorage far superior to the wisdom tooth itself. To claim that they displace the entire dental spectrum would be very risky.
The reason to extract wisdom teeth should not be based on this belief, but on them being malpositioned, and/or capable of causing cysts or infections. To resolve the problem of dental crowding, we must resort to other solutions, such as orthodontics in Valencia. If you have doubts about whether your wisdom tooth is in the correct position, also consult our guide on how long it takes for a wisdom tooth to come in. This information is part of our other dental treatments area in Valencia.