Extraction before braces?!
Question: I'm 24, have had braces for a slight overbite before and already had them taken out years ago. The thing I want to do this time is to have some teeth pulled before placing new braces, cos I honestly feel like I have "too much teeth". A friend of mine had 4 teeth (the canines?) pulled out before putting on braces. I'm confused whether to do it or not though, cos some say some dentists don't believe in extraction for braces and some do?
Answers: I'm 24, have had braces for a slight overbite before and already had them taken out years ago. The thing I want to do this time is to have some teeth pulled before placing new braces, cos I honestly feel like I have "too much teeth". A friend of mine had 4 teeth (the canines?) pulled out before putting on braces. I'm confused whether to do it or not though, cos some say some dentists don't believe in extraction for braces and some do?
I would recommend not getting 4 teeth pulled. Generally the (premolars) not the canines, are pulled away. The premolars are the smaller side teeth next to your canines. It's not whether orthodontists believe in extractions or not, it's actually if they consider it necessary for space and movement of crowded or overcrowded teeth. If you have severely crowded teeth, chances are you may get 4 premolar extractions or maybe 2 depending on your crowding. But with those extra 4 teeth you can have a more wide arch rather than a narrow arch. Also that gives you more room to bite on things when you eat.
So generally, it's up to the orthodontist to decide whether or not you'de need extractions. It all depends on your teeth and if its crowded or not.
I will say, if you are just wanting extractions for the heck of it, because you feel like you have too much teeth and it's not exactly necessary for the extractions, that would be considered a cosmetic enhancement and insurance may not cover that. The insurance will only cover it with a recommendation from your orthodontist to your oral maxillofacial surgeon that you need to have the extractions.
ALL TEETH ARE DIFFERENT
remember that
so it doesn't matter about what your friend did.
it all depends on your orthodontist. if your mouth is too crowded for the orthodontic procedure in the future you will have it removed. and it's not up to the dentist. all they care about is the cleaning part and overall health. this is orthodontics :)