Can wisdom teeth cause TMJ problems? If you’re asking, you’re probably thinking, “Wisdom teeth can do that too?” They’re already a rite-of-passage headache for teenagers. It’s fair to wonder whether they do anything good at all.
Here’s what I tell my patients about wisdom teeth and TMJ disorder: whether impacted wisdom teeth can cause it, the two ways they do, and whether having them removed can cause it.
Can impacted wisdom teeth cause TMJ disorder?
Yes, they can cause TMJ disorder, but not all wisdom teeth do. It depends on where they end up. Poorly positioned wisdom teeth are one of many possible causes.
So what does it depend on? Mostly position. A well-aligned wisdom tooth with enough room usually causes no trouble. One that comes in crooked or crowded can.
How do wisdom teeth cause TMJ problems?
Through their position. Wisdom teeth aren’t bad on their own. The problem is that they come in last, after every other tooth has already claimed its spot, and by then the room is often tight.
So what does a wisdom tooth do without enough room? It tries anyway, and it gets creative. Instead of coming in straight, it may erupt at an angle, ending up in an awkward spot compared with the rest of the teeth.
Wisdom teeth are late to the party, and sometimes they’re disruptive guests. Here are the two ways their position can lead to TMJ pain.
1. They come in taller than the other teeth
Think of your lower jaw as a hinge and lever. Biologically it’s a body part. Mechanically it’s a simple machine, and mechanics play a big role in TMJ disorder.
Your jaw opens and closes around a pivot point at the joint. Teeth closer to that pivot carry much more biting force than teeth farther forward. Wisdom teeth sit farthest back, closest to the pivot, so they take the most force.
If a wisdom tooth comes in even slightly out of line and hits before the others, it creates a strong, lopsided tipping force every time you close. That strains the jaw joint and the muscles that power it, and that strain can show up as TMJ symptoms.
2. They can push the other teeth forward
Whether wisdom teeth cause crowding is still debated. Studies have gone back and forth for decades, partly because it’s so hard to control every variable over the years teeth take to come in.
My view comes down to space. If there isn’t enough room and a wisdom tooth keeps pushing, the teeth in front of it can shift. Two teeth can’t share the same spot.
How does that lead to TMJ problems? When the teeth shift forward, the front of the mouth can get crowded. Crowded front teeth add pressure up front, and that pressure can push the jaw to close a little farther back than before.
That matters because the ear and skull sit right behind the jaw joint. Even a small shift backward puts strain on that area, which can cause muscle tension, ear fullness, headaches and tinnitus.
Can wisdom teeth removal cause TMJ disorder?
Usually only temporarily. Removing wisdom teeth strains the jaw and causes swelling, and that can bring TMJ-like symptoms for a few weeks while you heal.
Can Wisdom Teeth Removal Cause TMJ featured image.
With everything above, you might think it’s best to remove wisdom teeth before they cause trouble. When they don’t have room to come in properly, that’s often the right call. But what if you’ve already had them out and your jaw hurts?
It’s rare for a wisdom teeth extraction to cause lasting TMJ disorder. Many people notice their TMJ symptoms started around the time their wisdom teeth came out and assume the procedure caused it. In most cases the timing is a coincidence, and the symptoms improve once the real underlying causes are treated.
Should wisdom teeth be checked when diagnosing TMJ disorder?
Yes. When I evaluate a patient for TMJ disorder, I always look at the wisdom teeth. They’re often directly or indirectly involved in what’s causing the symptoms, and ruling them in or out helps point to the right treatment.
Jaw pain brings patients to our Waltham office from Lexington, Concord, Wellesley, Newton, Somerville, Cambridge, Brookline and Waltham itself. TMJ treatment can often start the same day as your first evaluation, so you do not make the drive twice before anything happens. Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction, 75 3rd Ave, Waltham, MA 02451, (781) 487-1111. See how TMJ treatment works here.
