Trying to decide whether or not to have my teeth extracted....?!
Question: Trying to decide whether or not to have my teeth extracted....?
Does anyone have any experience of this, or know anything about it?
Thank you in advance.
Answers:
Floyd S needs to stick with dental lab technician work and not try to play doctor because he does not know a thing about TMJ and what bicuspid extraction treatment can do to a patient. I don't recall seeing a DDS as part of his credentials.
You are correct in what you have "heard" about bicuspid removal. In addition to making your facial profile worse and the high probability of causing TMJ, extracting premolars and retracting the anterior teeth will make your mouth smaller than it should be, makes the upper back teeth not line up properly with the lower back teeth, and causes the mandible to bite further back than it should. It has already been documented that bicuspid extractions can cause TMJ and if you read the posts in this forum, you will see how many patients who have had bicuspids removed have clicking and popping of the jaw.
Of all people, Floyd S should know that one of the functions of teeth are to support the facial profile and lips since he must make dentures as a lab technician. I am sure that if he sets the front teeth on an upper denture too far posteriorly, it would make the lips of the denture wearer sink in because there would not be enough lip support. Therefore, the position of the teeth in the mouth has a direct affect on what the facial profile looks like.
rather than pulling perfectly good teeth to obtain room to uncrowd teeth, it is much better to expand the arches. Most traditional orthodontists do not like to expand jaws because they have been taught that it is not stable. That is true in adults and the solutuon is to wear a retainer at bedtime for life. That is a small price to pay to prevent TMJ disorders due to extracting bicuspids, IMHO.
Do a search on all the TMJ questions asked on this forum and you will see how many people have TMJ becasue bicuspids were extracted. I have routinely fixed TMJ disorders caused by bicuspid extraction treatment done by traditional orthodontists. And yes, I have a DDS degree and have well over 900 hours of advanced continuing education in the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders.
BTW, females are much more prone to developing TMJ disorders than males and the most common symptom are headaches.
functional orthodontist; treated TMJ since 1984
OK (1) the removal of Bicuspids indicate that your teeth are so crowded that there is no room in which to move other teeth and achieve a proper appearance and alignment. There should be "NO" TMJ issues as a result and "NO" facial disfigurement. Good luck and I wish you well.
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