Is It Necessary To Remove Teeth For Braces?
As one of the most advanced and highest-rated Knoxville orthodontists, the comfort of our patients and their families is our top priority at Myers Orthodontics. If you're considering braces, we offer complimentary consultations to evaluate your smile, develop a treatment plan, and answer all your questions.
One of our patients' most frequent concerns is whether they need any teeth removed to achieve their perfect smile. Because our practice uses the latest orthodontic techniques, tooth removal is nowhere near as common as it used to be. However, some cases still require tooth removal for the best results.
Why Are Teeth Removed for Braces in Knoxville?
The most common reason why we need to remove teeth before you can get braces in Knoxville is severe overcrowding. There is only so much room in your mouth, meaning teeth may have to come out if your mouth doesn't have the space to move or rotate them. For overcrowding cases, orthodontists typically remove one tooth in each quadrant. This allows the other teeth to shift and fill the space.
Other reasons why your Fountain City family orthodontist may consider tooth removal as part of your orthodontic treatment plan include:
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Severe decay
- Retained primary teeth
- Hyperdontia
Are There Alternatives to Tooth Removal?
The good news is that Knoxville orthodontists only remove teeth when absolutely necessary. We offer many alternatives to tooth removal, and the best solution for you depends on your age and the severity of your case.
Widening the Jaw
For our younger patients, we often use a palate expander to gradually widen the jaw as the first step of their treatment plan. Because these devices work best before the jaw is fully developed, the ideal age to begin treatment with a palate expander is seven to eight years old.
Options for Mild Crowding
A good option for mild crowding is interproximal reduction, which is slightly shaving down the sides of the teeth to make space. Other cases of mild crowding can be addressed by simply moving the teeth outwards with braces or aligners. Veneers or crowns can be a good solution for crowding due to misshapen or malformed teeth.
Will I Need to Have Any Teeth Removed?
The only way to answer that question is to visit a Fountain City family orthodontist for an evaluation. Every mouth is unique, and we always do our best to save your natural teeth whenever possible.
Contact Myers Orthodontics at one of our convenient Knoxville, TN, locations in Fountain City or Bearden to schedule your complimentary consultation.