Anytime someone is considering orthodontic treatment, wondering if teeth will need to be removed to deal with misalignment or crowding is usually at the top of the list of concerns.
The answer is that in some cases it may be necessary, however, even though some dental professionals are quick to extract, at E&S Orthodontics, your Phoenix Orthodontist, we avoid it as often as possible.
Extraction Therapy vs Non-Extraction Therapy
A lot of dental professionals believe that extraction therapy works, and while it does make room, it also produces a different type of aesthetics. Patients who have premolars extracted often have a less attractive profile and facial features, especially as they age. Extracting teeth, then pulling the others backwards can flatten out the face, thinning the appearance of the lips and developing a retruded chin, all factors that make avoiding extraction important. Bottom line, in our opinion, non-extraction orthodontic treatment is almost always the best option.
While there are cases where extraction needs to be performed, in our office, we try to mitigate that need and do everything in our power to avoid it. Sometimes orthodontic treatment is carried out in two stages, phase 1 and phase 2, to reduce the need for extraction. We treat children at a younger age (phase 1) which helps improve the way the jaws grow so that there’s sufficient room for all the teeth to grow in. In many cases, simply by growing the jaws correctly, patients can avoid the need for braces, or at least make the treatment easier to deal with and faster. Our goal is to create straight teeth, a healthy bite and a beautiful smile and the best way to do this in most cases is by avoiding extraction.
Diagnoses and Treatment Planning
Careful diagnosis and treatment planning for each patient’s specific problems help us create a customized plan that will help create their authentic smile. By setting case-by-case objectives for each patient, we’re able to establish goals that provide a beautiful, functional, and stable occlusion.
If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us today. Our experienced team members are here to help.
