Posted by: PaperBag

I was just at the dentist and got told all my wisdom teeth have cavities that could possibly get filled, but one on the bottom is on an angle and pushing into the adjacent molar, forming a cavity in it. I'd really rather not get them pulled because my face will likely become narrow, though the reasoning to pull one or two of them is pretty solid. Is there any way I can expand my mandible so the wisdom teeth can become upright, or is the only way to expand the maxilla and wait for the bottom to follow suit? I'd like to exhaust all of my options before relenting to getting teeth pulled out.

I have not researched mandibular expansion a whole lot since the mandible wasn’t a problem area for me, but as far as I am aware you could either use an appliance to expand the mandibular alveolar ridge (for a very minor case and may not even be useful for adults) or you can opt for mandibular/mandibular-symphyseal distraction osteogenesis depending on which dimension you are lacking relative to the shape of your maxillary arch.

Chewing food can lengthen dental arches.  I have evidence of it in a child.  Not so sure on an adult.  Personally, I woudn't worry too much about the bottom ones.  The top ones effect the eyes... but I'm not sure if you can do half?  A Schwartz lower or maybe braces can make room?

@Varbrah I might have to look into an appliance, I'm admittedly not brave enough to go through the other treatment you suggested.

@darkindigo The dentist initially said only one could get pulled, the bottom one on the left side. That one fits well, it just has very obvious cavities. I don't know how only getting some of them pulled doesn't lead to asymmetry, but it wasn't mentioned as an issue. I thought teeth had root resorption if there wasn't an antagonist. After getting updated X-rays, he said I should "strongly consider" getting them all taken out, but the bottom right one that's pushing into the molar is the main problem. Thanks for the Schwartz idea, I never remember all of these appliance names. I already had braces and my bottom teeth fit well even before that, but my bite/face is not symmetrical, which is probably why there's no room on one side. My IMW is pretty good (41-42), so it's kind of surprising that my wisdom teeth don't easily fit, but my jaw rotation sucks and makes my smile look pushed back in my face.

My new favorite place is an orthodontic lab.  They have some cool fixed/functional appliances for various things... including asymmetries.  I don't think they know as much as orthos, but some know more in certain areas.  If one side is pulled... and the other is crowded... a midline shift may occur... something to consider.  I've seen similar.