Can wisdom teeth cause the bottom teeth to become crooked?

Yes: There has been controversy over this for decades. I think that most will agree that over time, the eruptive force of the wisdom teeth can impart sufficient force to the other teeth to move them and cause crowding. Any orthodontists out there can give you chapter and verse on the studies.

???: Orthodontists and oral surgeons agree that this is true. But I have been told by engineers that force is a vector and it can not turn a corner, therefore it would be impossible for the wisdom teeth to cause the lower front teeth to become crooked. I personally believe it is a combination of forces that cause this.

Studies say NO: This is a controversial subject in orthodontic circles. Multiple studies indicate no relation between wisdom teeth and lower incisor crowding. An exquisite study done at ohsu by kaplan et. Al. Studied 1000 patients and found no correlation. Little et al. Found that lower incisor crowding is due to overbite deepening causing lower incisor crowding with age, starting in the early 20's.

10%: Wisdom teeth contribute at most 10% to destabilization of lower anterior teeth. Other factors (passive eruption, medial migration, differential growth, lymphatic shrinkage, change in soft tissue drape, etc) cause lower anterior crowding. If your teeth show signs of shifting, consult with an Orthodontic Specialist before the problem gets out of hand.

Crowding: This is a much debated topic, and there exists plenty of support both for and against wisdom teeth contributing to crowding of your teeth. However, general consensus currently is that wisdom teeth do contribute to anterior crowding, especially in the lower jaw. Keep in mind, many other factors also contribute to crowding of your anterior teeth.