Can You Get Wisdom Teeth Removed With Braces?

I’ve been wearing braces for a little over a year now. Yeah… definitely not the highlight of my life, to be honest. But it’s worth it I think. Anyway, while dealing with wires poking my cheeks and rubber bands snapping at random times, another surprise decided to show up… wisdom teeth. Yep. Those little guys love showing up uninvited, right?

That got me thinking: Can you get wisdom teeth removed with braces Like, is that even safe? Or would I have to remove the braces first? It’s confusing and honestly a bit stressful if you’re already dealing with dental work.

Let’s dig into it a bit, not as some textbook explanation, but like how your friend would explain it after googling too much and talking to a real dentist.

Wondering if it’s possible to get your wisdom teeth out while still rocking braces?

Yep it’s totally doable, and honestly, it happens more often than you’d think.I actually ended up getting two of mine removed while still wearing braces. It wasn’t the most fun week of my life, but it was doable. Dentists and orthodontists work together on this kind of thing more often than you’d expect.

The idea that you can’t do it is one of those myths that just floats around. I straight up asked my ortho, Hey, is it even okay to get wisdom teeth pulled while I’ve got braces on and he literally laughed and said, “Of course! We coordinate with oral surgeons all the time.”

The key is communication between your dental team. So if you’re wearing braces and those wisdom teeth start causing trouble like that annoying jaw pain or some swelling no need to freak out. You won’t have to put your treatment on hold or anything.. Just make sure your ortho and oral surgeon are on the same page.

Why Would You Even Need Them Out During Braces?

Good question. In a perfect world, those wisdom teeth would show up after you’re done with braces. That way, they don’t mess up the alignment your braces are working so hard to fix.

But that’s not always how it goes. Sometimes they start pushing through earlier, or they’re impacted and causing pain, or they’re growing sideways (yep, that’s a thing). In that case, waiting isn’t really an option.

This is actually when I first wondered: Can you get wisdom teeth removed with braces? Because mine started growing in kinda sideways, and my bottom molars were aching like crazy. At first, I figured it was just the braces causing trouble until I looked at the x-rays and, well… surprise. Those teeth were crashing the party.

The Procedure: Is It Worse With Braces?

Honestly? Not really.

Having braces doesn’t change the wisdom tooth removal process much. The oral surgeon works around them. The only extra step is checking with your orthodontist to make sure the surgical plan won’t mess with any wires or brackets.

You’ll still be numbed up or sedated, depending on how deep the teeth are. Mine were impacted (of course), so I went under IV sedation. Slept right through it.

The recovery is the same, too. Swelling, ice packs, soft foods for a few days. (Pro tip: stock up on pudding and mashed potatoes.) The braces didn’t make recovery harder, but yeah, I had to be extra careful when rinsing or brushing around the brackets.

Also, using a syringe to flush the sockets was weird with the wires, but you get used to it.

What If You Haven’t Gotten Braces Yet?

Here’s something I wish I’d known earlier: a lot of orthodontists actually suggest getting your wisdom teeth removed before you start braces especially if they suspect they could crowd your teeth down the line.

So, if you’re just about to get braces and wondering, “Can you get wisdom teeth removed with braces?”, it might be worth asking your ortho if you can have them taken out first. Might save you a headache later on, honestly.

That said, everyone’s case is different. My top wisdom teeth weren’t even a concern, and my ortho said they could stay unless they caused problems.

Can It Mess Up Your Treatment?

Funny thing I had no idea when I started braces that some orthodontists actually prefer you get your wisdom teeth out first. Turns out, if there’s a chance they might mess up your alignment later, it’s better to deal with them early.

So if you’re just getting started and wondering, can you get wisdom teeth removed with braces?, maybe talk to your ortho about pulling them beforehand. Might save you some stress later.

But my orthodontist was super chill about it. He said that getting your wisdom teeth out while wearing braces usually doesn’t mess anything up. If anything, it can actually help. Like, if the wisdom teeth are pushing or crowding your other teeth, taking them out gives your braces more room to do their thing.

That actually happened with me. After the surgery, we made a few small tweaks to my braces to make use of the extra space. Kinda worked out better than

So yeah, if you’re wondering again, can you get wisdom teeth removed with braces? Totally. And in some situations, it’s the smarter move.

Real Talk Before You Panic

If you’ve got braces on and suddenly that dull ache shows up way in the back of your mouth try not to overthink it. I’ve dealt with that kind of pain too. It’s no fun, sure but it’s manageable. Best thing you can do?.
looked at, have a quick chat with your ortho, and figure out the next steps. Most of the time, it’s fixable and way more common than you’d think. You don’t need to pause your braces or delay things for months. Just talk to your orthodontist.