Wisdom Teeth and Braces: 7 Myths We Hear All the Time
Orthodontists and oral surgeons under one roof. Get answers about your wisdom teeth and your bite in one visit.
“Do my wisdom teeth have to come out before I get braces?” “Will they ruin my results?” “Can I even have surgery with brackets on?”
We hear these questions weekly. And because Blue Ridge Orthodontics has both orthodontists and an oral surgery team under one roof, we get to answer them from both sides of the chair. Let’s clear things up.
Quick Answer: Can You Get Wisdom Teeth Removed With Braces?
Yes. Wisdom teeth can be safely removed while you’re wearing braces. Brackets sit on the front surfaces of your teeth, while wisdom teeth are at the very back. Your oral surgeon works around your braces, and your orthodontic treatment keeps going.
Myth vs. Fact
Wisdom Teeth and Braces Scorecard
| ✗ MYTH Remove wisdom teeth before braces | ✓ FACT Usually not required |
| ✗ MYTH Wisdom teeth make teeth crooked | ✓ FACT Retainers prevent crowding |
| ✗ MYTH Braces fix impacted wisdom teeth | ✓ FACT Removal is typically needed |
| ✗ MYTH No surgery while wearing braces | ✓ FACT Safe and common |
| ✗ MYTH Removal undoes braces progress | ✓ FACT Treatment continues as planned |
| ✗ MYTH Everyone needs them removed | ✓ FACT Only when they cause problems |
| ✗ MYTH Orthodontists can’t help | ✓ FACT BRO has in-house oral surgeons |
Myth 1: “You Have to Remove Wisdom Teeth Before Getting Braces”
Fact: Not usually. Most patients start braces with their wisdom teeth still in place, especially teens whose wisdom teeth haven’t developed fully yet. We take a panoramic X-ray at your first visit to see where they are and how they’re growing. Removal before braces only happens when the teeth are already causing problems or blocking planned tooth movement.
Myth 2: “Wisdom Teeth Push Your Other Teeth Crooked”
Fact: This one is hotly debated, and the research doesn’t support wisdom teeth as the main cause of crowding. Front teeth tend to shift naturally with age, whether wisdom teeth exist or not. The real protection against crowding after treatment is your retainer. See the signs it’s time for a new retainer.
Myth 3: “Braces Can Fix Impacted Wisdom Teeth”
Fact: Generally, no. An impacted wisdom tooth is stuck in bone or gum, often at an angle, and usually has no room to erupt. Braces can’t create space at the very back of the jaw. For impacted wisdom teeth, removal is typically the answer.
It’s a different story for other impacted teeth. An impacted canine, for example, can often be guided into place with a procedure called expose and bond, followed by braces. That’s one of the areas where our orthodontists and surgeons work closely together.
Myth 4: “You Can’t Have Surgery With Braces On”
Fact: You absolutely can. Your surgeon may ask us to remove a wire temporarily in rare cases, but most of the time nothing about your braces needs to change. Recovery is the same as it would be without braces.
Myth 5: “Getting Wisdom Teeth Out Will Undo Your Braces Progress”
Fact: Removal doesn’t move your other teeth. Swelling and soreness fade within a week or so, and your treatment picks up right where it left off.
Myth 6: “Everyone Needs Their Wisdom Teeth Removed”
Fact: Some people keep healthy, well-positioned wisdom teeth for life. Removal is recommended when wisdom teeth are impacted, partially erupted, prone to infection, decaying, or damaging neighboring teeth. We monitor them with X-rays throughout treatment and give you an honest recommendation.
Myth 7: “Your Orthodontist Can’t Help With Wisdom Teeth”
Fact: Orthodontists spot wisdom tooth problems early because we take regular X-rays. At BRO, we go a step further. Our in-house surgeons handle wisdom teeth removal and other dental extractions, so your care stays coordinated instead of bouncing between offices.
Recovering From Wisdom Teeth Removal With Braces
A few extra tips when you’re in braces:
- Use orthodontic wax on any bracket near a sore spot in your cheek.
- Brush gently around the surgical site for the first few days, then resume normal cleaning.
- Skip elastics (rubber bands) until your surgeon or orthodontist says it’s OK. Opening wide will be uncomfortable.
- Stick to soft, cool foods. Our list of foods to eat after oral surgery works for braces wearers too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get your wisdom teeth removed while having braces?
Yes. It’s common and safe, and it doesn’t interrupt orthodontic treatment.
Can you get braces with impacted wisdom teeth?
In most cases, yes. We evaluate them with X-rays and decide together whether removal should happen before, during, or after treatment, or not at all.
Do orthodontists remove wisdom teeth?
Orthodontists typically don’t perform the surgery themselves. At Blue Ridge Orthodontics, our in-house oral surgery team does, so you can have both handled in one practice.
Should wisdom teeth be removed after braces?
Only if they’re causing or likely to cause problems. Your retainer, not wisdom tooth removal, is what keeps your teeth straight.
Get Both Answers in One Visit
Wondering about your wisdom teeth and your bite? Our orthodontists and oral surgeons can evaluate both. Request an oral surgery consult or book a free orthodontic consultation in Asheville, Hendersonville, or Brevard.
