Questions about teeth extractions (4) for braces?!


Question: Both of my orthodontists recommend it. The four teeth aren't baby teeth or wisdom teeth. They said it would be better and make my teeth more stable. Right now, my teeth are straight from braces, but it's made me have a slightly bigger (not huge) overbite. My parents, otoh, think that it will cause problems for me when i'm older. like loose teeth etc. They think that the four teeth are perfectly good teeth that I'll need when i'm old.

What should I do? Is what my parents are saying warranted or should I just follow the orthodontists'? BTW I'm a 14yo girl if that helps.


Answers: Both of my orthodontists recommend it. The four teeth aren't baby teeth or wisdom teeth. They said it would be better and make my teeth more stable. Right now, my teeth are straight from braces, but it's made me have a slightly bigger (not huge) overbite. My parents, otoh, think that it will cause problems for me when i'm older. like loose teeth etc. They think that the four teeth are perfectly good teeth that I'll need when i'm old.

What should I do? Is what my parents are saying warranted or should I just follow the orthodontists'? BTW I'm a 14yo girl if that helps.

If your orthodontist is recommending extractions at this stage of the game, it is likely because you didn't respond to treatment the way he/she anticipated. Particularly in "overbite" cases (what your orthodontist will call overjet), the orthodontist will try to predict how much your lower jaw is going to grow during treatment. It usually grows later and longer than your upper jaw which helps to reduce how much of an "overbite" you have. You're nearing the end of the expected treatment time, and the orthodontist has determined that growth and rubber bands aren't going to be enough to give you an ideal bite. Your teeth may appear to be straight, but the orthodontist owes you a set of teeth that not only look great, but work well together...something that isn't going to be the case if your overbite isn't addressed.

Your parents mean well. Those four teeth are perfectly fine, but the orthodontist believes that it is better to sacrifice those four teeth for the overall health and stability of the other 24 that you'll have in your mouth (assuming your wisdom teeth will also ultimately be extracted, which is likely in a case where crowding existed prior to orthodontic treatment). He/she likely went to college for four years, dental school for four years, and then an orthodontic residency to learn his/her specialty for two or three years after that and also has an unspecified number of years of clinical experience as well that has led him/her to this decision. Trust the person who is most educated and experienced...your orthodontist.

Usually, 4 permanent teeth, usually premolars, are removed for braces. It makes more room so the teeth can easily be straightened. It is easy.

don't worry bout it, really don't stress out....i think you should follow ur orthondistt!!!

Usually they remove the 4 teeth before you get braces on to make room for moving the teeth. So, if you already had braces it does not make sense to me to extract them now. Wouldn't you have to have braces again in order to move the teeth into the empty spaces? If the overbite is not that noticeable and you are happy with your teeth, I wouldn't go through all that, it is not fun to have permanent teeth pulled. I'd leave your mouth alone if you had braces already, they are straight and look nice, and the overbite is not an issue.





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