I have 24 teeth, wisdom teeth, second premolars teeth removed before braces. Still have trouble with crowding. What to do?

Question

I have had orthodontic work in the past. I have had four second premolars removed and all four wisdom teeth out. I got braces everything went well, didn’t wear my retainers so everything is kinda shifting back. I also have a small mouth and a cross bite. Anyways , just recently noticed it’s still very hard to floss even if I have 24 TEETH! What should I do? I even have crowding again, should I remove more teeth, get Invisalign or just forget about it.

Raj Kumar, BDS, LDSRCS · Answer

The good news is that after all those teeth out you did have straight teeth. What you are experiencing is a relapse due to poorly made retainers. Invisalign would be ideal in moving the teeth to where they were and no more extractions would be needed.

Emery Cole, DMD, FAGD · Answer

The good news, your jaw and bone are living structures and adapt and modify over your lifetime.  Many of us experience the crowding of our lower front teeth and is a normal progression of jaw structure change to what we think was to accommodate side to side wear of teeth.  This wear doesn't happen with our modern diet as we do not use our teeth as tools as in many thousands and hundreds of thousands of years ago...but the increased pressure from the jaw still occurs squeezing the teeth tighter and tighter together eventually resulting in off angle compression of teeth together, hence, crowding.I would suggest an Invisalign consult as IPR is typically utilized to adjust the sides of the teeth to help in keeping them flush and straight after treatment.  A fixed retainer sounds better for you given your past.....per your admission...of non compliant retainer wear!

A Vandiveer Strait, DDS (Retired)- Acct. Suspended · Answer

In your case Invisalign would be by far the best solution. It may require only Express treatment and take only a few months.   Invisalign is faster, more comfortable, and a healthier orthodontic technology than traditional wire and bracket orthodontics.  Although I do not know all the details of your situation,  I would advise that you get an opinion from a General Dentist who has a lot of experience with Invisalign Orthodontic treatment before you proceed.  I also would recommend the Vivera system of retention produced by Invisalign when your correction is completed. We have found Vivera the best, most comfortable and successful system and we have been using Vivera for 11 years in our Wilton Dental office.

I have 24 teeth, wisdom teeth, second premolars teeth removed before braces. Still have trouble with crowding. What to do?

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

I have 24 teeth, wisdom teeth, second premolars teeth removed before braces. Still have trouble with crowding. What to do?

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.