Common Orthodontic Myths Debunked

“I’m too old for orthodontics.” “My wisdom teeth came in and made my teeth shift.” “Invisalign doesn’t work.” There is no end to the list of “Orthodontic Myths” we hear every week at Coastal Carolina Orthodontics, but these are definitely some of the most common ones.

“I’m too old for orthodontics.”

Thankfully, no one is “too old” for orthodontics. While there are some issues that can be more easily addressed with adolescent patients, most orthodontic problems can be addressed at any age. The biology of teeth movement is essentially the same no matter the age of the patient.  

“My wisdom teeth came in and made my teeth shift.”

We probably hear this one almost every day. This is such a common myth that for a period of time it was even taught in dental schools all around the country. However, lots of research was done over the past 20-30 years that has thoroughly disproven this idea. There are lots of reasons to have wisdom teeth removed, but preventing teeth from shifting is not one.

“Invisalign doesn’t work.”

We have a lot of patients whose new smiles say otherwise! Invisalign absolutely works, but you need a good treatment plan and a high level of compliance. Designing predictable tooth movements with Invisalign can be even harder than with braces. The doctors at The Smile Makers are experts in Invisalign treatment planning and we consistently achieve amazing results!