Are Tooth Extractions Necessary Before Getting Braces?
If you’ve been informed that you or your child will require braces treatment in Ridgefield CT, you may be wondering if tooth extraction is in your future. And while the idea of pulling teeth can be scary, it’s not always needed. Indeed, contemporary orthodontic techniques frequently accomplish treatment without extractions.
Why Are Teeth Sometimes Extracted Before Braces?
Some type of tooth removal is commonly recommended in cases of severe dental crowding, when there is not enough room in the mouth for the teeth to align properly. In these situations, extraction of one or more teeth may be needed to allow space for the remaining teeth to move to a more favorable position in the mouth.
Other good reasons for an orthodontist to suggest extractions before braces:
Protruding front teeth
Teeth that are trapped or impacted under the gum line
Severe overbite or underbite correction
Midline discrepancies in the smile
In both of these instances, pulling teeth can enhance the overall result of orthodontic care appearance wise and bite function wise.
Is Tooth Extraction Necessary for All Braces Treatments?
The good news is that spoken expectations will work out in favor of most patients; you can trust us few if any patients need extractions to get braces. Thanks to the advancement in orthodontic technology, there are more treatment choices than ever which can develop space without the need for extractions.
Options such as:
Rapid palatal expanders
Tooth enameloplasty
Self-ligating brackets for easier fontertainment of section movement
Orthodontists of today are more conservative in their approach to extraction and will only endorse teeth removal when it is highly indicated. Every treatment plan is tailored to the jaw and tooth size and position and what the aims of the orthodontic treatment are.
What to Anticipate if Extractions Are Required
In the end, the decision of whether to extract teeth is up to your orthodontist. If your orthodontist does decide that extractions are best, the procedures are usually relatively painless and require only a local anesthetic. Braces can be put on after the extraction wounds have healed which typically takes a couple of days to a week in order to start moving the teeth into the correct position.
You’ll want to follow all of the aftercare instructions and practice good oral hygiene throughout your orthodontic treatment for best results.
Conclusion
Tooth removal before braces is less common than in the past and certainly not a routine step. Not every smile is the same and the choice to remove teeth depends on the anatomy and on the treatment we plan for the patient.
Maddy is the author of this article, if you want to learn about New Canaan Orthodontic treatment you can visit to www.ridgefieldortho.com