There has always been an ongoing debate among the best Carson City, NV and surrounding areas orthodontists about the need for extracting permanent teeth as a part of orthodontic treatment. It seems the Orthodontic residency one attends has a big influence on treatment philosophy. I had exposure to both sides of the debate at NYU and I landed on the side of rarely extracting teeth as my treatment of choice.

Effects of Extractions

One of the biggest reasons is the effect it has on the face and the patient’s airway. Think of it in terms of the garage where you park your car. It fits but not with much extra room to close the garage door. Now imagine you took out four building blocks, one on each side, and went to park your car. It would stick out of the garage door. Much the same happens when we extract permanent teeth. Your mouth shape (the garage) becomes smaller and your tongue (the car) sticks out into your airway space.

Negatives & Positives

I‘ve had an ENT doctor mention that he sees more snoring and sleep apnea problems in patients that have had teeth extracted. That said, there are times when there is just not any room and no realistic way to create space for all the teeth to fit. My own practice statistics put my extraction rate at 7%. That is much lower than our professions average of 20-45%. Facial aesthetics is also affected by extracting teeth. Plastic surgeons are almost always filling up spaces in the face for a more youthful appearance. Having a nice wide arch with all your teeth creates a beautiful smile design for the majority of people.

Questions to Ask Before Surgery

When it comes down to patients needing jaw (Orthognathic) surgery to correct a skeletal bad bite, three questions must be asked.

1) Is the patient willing to have the surgery performed?

2) Will the surgery achieve a significant improvement in facial appearance and dental function?

3) Are the financial resources there, with or without medical insurance coverage to pay for the attendant costs of the surgery?

If the answer to all three is ‘yes’ then working with a skilled and experienced Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon allows me to achieve excellent patient outcomes. A ‘no’ answer to any of these questions leaves patients stranded with few options. I have treated many patients who have been told that surgery was their only option. The majority of these patients have been happily treated with my Specialist-directed Invisalign therapy.

Learn More About Extractions & Surgery – Contact the Best Carson City, NV & Surrounding Areas Orthodontist Today

If you have been told that surgery or extracting teeth is your only treatment possibility, please call our office for a second or third opinion. I will show you my treated cases that are similar to yours and together we can chart a course for your new smile!

The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other orthodontic-related topics, feel free to contact D’Ascoli Orthodontics by clicking here or by calling 775-853-1919.