Sometimes getting braces is not the first step in your orthodontic treatment. It's possible that during your consultation at your orthodontic center, your orthodontist will advise you to have certain teeth extracted before he or she can properly treat you with braces. It may seem scary to have your permanent teeth pulled; However, tooth extraction is sometimes absolutely necessary for successful braces treatment. There are a few cases where tooth extraction is necessary before braces treatment:
- Overcrowding- when there is significant crowding of the teeth, extraction may be necessary to make space for proper alignment of the teeth. This is the most common reason for extraction and is usually done in 2s or 4s (taking the same teeth from the bottom as the top) in order to keep your smile symmetrical.
- Protrusion- when the top teeth stick out too much or the bottom teeth do not extend far enough forward, tooth extraction can create the necessary space to move the front teeth backwards in the mouth and stop the lips and teeth from sticking out.
- Overbite / underbite – when the upper jaw extends far beyond the lower jaw (overbite) or the lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw (underbite), extracting certain teeth and using braces to move the remaining teeth and compensate for the jaw misalignment is a great alternative to using surgery to correct the problem.
Your orthodontic specialist will not perform the extraction; usually he or she will refer you to an oral surgeon who will perform the extraction at relatively low pain and hassle to you. It's true that you need to watch your diet after the extraction and you may feel a little soreness, but overall, the procedure is routine and easy. You will be able to return to your normal activities the next day and in some cases the same day as the extraction. It's important to be conscious of your chewing and take extra time to clean your teeth to avoid getting any food caught in the gaps, but tooth extraction should not cause you much anxiety. Shortly after the extraction, you will return to your orthodontic center to begin your treatment with braces. The braces will close the gaps left behind by your teeth, usually within four months to one year. By the end of your treatment, you will not be able to notice from the look of your mouth that you had teeth extracted.
It is important to go over all of your options with your orthodontic specialist and pick a treatment plan that both you and your doctor feel most comfortable with.
Source by Marina Koletis
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