Is There An Alternative to Having Teeth Removed For Braces?
Irvine, CA – At Updike Orthodontics, we offer orthodontic treatment to young children and include age groups all the way to adults. Each patient’s case is unique, and we strive to provide the best possible treatment plan to achieve a healthy, perfect smile. Sometimes, one of the recommended treatment plans requires the patient to have teeth removed. While this could be worrisome, Dr. Updike discusses why this treatment plan may be recommended, and provides insight on alternative treatment should the patient decline having teeth removed.
Why Do I Need Teeth Removed?
Here are the four main reasons why teeth are usually removed for orthodontic treatment.
What Happens if I Don’t Remove Teeth?
We only recommend teeth removal if we believe it is the best possible treatment plan for the patient’s case. If the patient chooses not to remove teeth, we may be able to align the teeth to the best of our ability, and may also use TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices) depending on the case. Some other alternatives to teeth removal include: surgery and expansion.
Your smile will still look straight in the end, but there may still be some misalignment with the jaw that could have been avoided if some of the teeth were removed. There is also a possibility that the teeth will shift more once the braces are removed. We always recommend wearing your retainers as instructed to prevent the amount of shifting that could occur, but we have noticed that patients who declined having teeth removed tend to notice that their teeth shift more-so after treatment due to issues like overcrowding.
Overall, each case is unique and we recommend discussing any concerns or questions with your orthodontist. It is important to know the pros and cons of each treatment plan, and choose the one that you are most comfortable with. If you are interested in orthodontic treatment for you or your child, please give our office a call at (949) 870- 9713 and one of our team members could assist you in scheduling a free consultation!
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