In today’s day and age, it is not uncommon for people to opt for orthodontic treatment to fix their crooked teeth. Braces have become the most popular practice in modern orthodontics. It has been proven as the most reliable treatment option to correct malocclusion and relieve the patient from any aesthetic concerns they might have regarding the position of their teeth or their desire to have a beautiful smile.
The step, however, that most patients are apprehensive about is still the extraction. It makes people nervous about agreeing to get their teeth pulled out of the mouth, and rightly so. Patients have questions ranging from “why do I need extraction?” to “Is it safe to start orthodontic treatment right after you pulled my teeth out?” As substantial as their concerns, there’s no “one size fits all” reply to these questions.
One of the most common reasons to extract teeth is to create space for the crowded teeth in your arch so that they can be transformed into a string of perfectly positioned teeth, hence, achieving the main goal of orthodontic treatment. Sometimes, suppose the teeth have enough space. In that case, there is no need to go through the whole ordeal of extractions –but for some, it is an integral part of the procedure … if stable and long-lasting results are desired.
Every patient has a different dental profile, a different case and similarly, every orthodontist has a different treatment plan they follow. While some orthodontists advise waiting for 5 to 7 days post-extraction to give the wound a chance to rest, others might start the treatment and extract teeth while the braces are still on.
Extraction, before the treatment starts, is planned because the tooth in question is decayed beyond restoration. The damage is so advanced that the orthodontist might deem it more efficient to take the tooth out and start the treatment without. Hence helping the healthy teeth in the space already created rather than including the diseased tooth in the process only to take it out sometime later.
On the other hand, your orthodontist might decide to extract teeth during the treatment. As it might render the teeth unstable which can result in misalignment and shifting due to the lack of space in the arch. Reviewing all of the options provided, an extraction might be the orthodontist’s final choice for long-lasting results.
In any case, whenever during the treatment your orthodontist advises extraction, as scary as it may sound, trust that it is an informed opinion and will achieve the best possible results for your healthy bite and beautiful smile. Does it make any difference or affect the treatment duration or efficacy in any way? No, not really. It is just a matter of choice and convenience for the orthodontist as the end goal is the same, an attractive smile that makes the patient confident and optimizes their aesthetic as well as functional needs.
