Years ago, most orthodontists in Cary removed teeth when they saw a mouth that was too small, and teeth that were too big. That was common place in the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s. Many parents come into our practice today with the same thought pattern “I had teeth removed, so will my kids.” This is one of the most common things we hear from parents when they bring their children to our office for an initial orthodontic exam.  The good thing is times have changed! Technology has completely changed the way we think about removing teeth.

With traditional braces many orthodontists pull teeth to create space for crowded teeth. There are very few orthodontists who like to pull teeth. Having a broad movie star smile is really what most people are looking for. That’s why we us the Damon System.  The Damon System uses biologically sensible forces which work with the body’s natural adaptive processes to create space naturally, so we can now treat most cases without extraction.

There are times that we do require an extraction. In these cases space is made to improve facial balance and symmetry and to provide a smile  that will last as you age.

So why are there people who still need teeth removed?

There are several reasons that teeth are removed before orthodontic treatment.

• In many cases orthodontists will remove baby (primary) teeth. This helps to allow space for permanent teeth to erupt with enough room.

• Sometimes, doctors are using an older system of braces and cannot get the type of correction they desire without removing teeth.
• In some cases, adults require treatment and their jaws have completed growing. It is sometimes very difficult to move teeth without extraction in adult patients. We do have techniques that make working with adults much easier.
• A small jaws and too many teeth can cause people to get extractions. In this case Dr Bovenizer is able to widen the jaw with self-ligating braces  such as the Damon System. Many doctors who don’t use the Damon System will extract teeth.
• Protusion of the front teeth is often reason that teeth are removed. In this case some teeth on the side will need to be removed to make room for the front teeth to be correctly positioned.
• Finally, to correct an overbite or underbite. If the upper and lower jaw sizes are mismatched, one way of  treating them is to surgically reposition them. Another way to handle this issue is to remove teeth
  We rarely remove teeth when we are treating a patient.

If you have been told you need to have teeth removed and you are in the Raleigh/Cary area, give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your situation. As always, ask your doctor for a complete explanation of your specific needs and how they will be treated.