Albertville, AL
Frequently, before someone begins orthodontic treatment with braces, they may be advised that they need to have teeth extracted prior to treatment. The logic behind this is that removing teeth – usually ones at the back of the mouth – then provides more room for teeth to straighten into their proper alignment, to address present overcrowding in the mouth, or both. When possible, your family dentists in Albertville prefer to install braces without extractions. Find out why, today on the blog.
The risks of extraction prior to braces
Risk 1: It can damage your other teeth
As mentioned earlier, any extractions before braces likely are going to target teeth at the back of the mouth, usually premolars: the back teeth located between your molars and canine teeth. However, these teeth serve a purpose. Namely, they chew smaller bits of food that have already been partially chewed by the molars. If you remove the premolars, your canine teeth do this work instead, and this can create excessive wear on the canines.
Risk 2: It may alter your facial profile
Removing healthy teeth and exerting pressure to pull the others into a different alignment may give you the appearance of a flatter face or cheekbones. It also may thin your lips or make your chin appear to retract. This can make you appear older than you actually are. The face also can recede down and elongate until it begins to collapse, a condition known as “long face syndrome.”
Reason 3: It can lead to mouth breathing
Removing your premolars and pulling back the other teeth can leave less room in the mouth to accommodate the tongue. Consequently, the tongue can slide back and block the throat, meaning you are predisposed to mouth breathing. People who breathe frequently through the mouth, especially when asleep, face a higher risk of developing a serious sleep breathing disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. Someone with sleep apnea experiences breathing difficulties while they are asleep and also live with poor-quality sleep, which has negative effects on them both physically and mentally.
Get a second opinion before having teeth extracted for braces
Having healthy teeth removed is a big decision and you should not make it quickly or rashly. This is why it is important to have all the information you can before making that choice. Wall Street Dentistry can straighten teeth with braces. These modern braces are a significant upgrade on the mouth full of brackets and wires you may have experienced in your own adolescence in the 1980s or 1990s.
Our dentists in Albertville also offer functional orthodontic treatment. This entails using dental appliances to create ideal positioning of the tongue and jaw, thus alleviating any negative impact they have on the teeth. Functional therapy aligns the upper and lower arches. Once that has been achieved, the teeth can be aligned through braces.
To learn more about how Wall Street Dentistry uses braces in combination with early intervention orthodontics, schedule a consultation at our office in Albertville today. Just call (256) 878-0525 or complete our online contact form.
