Will I have to have teeth extracted prior to getting braces?

Many patients initially consult with a Long Island orthodontist to address excessive crowding in the teeth. When the jaw is not large enough to accommodate all of the permanent teeth, the teeth can come in crooked or overlap with their neighbors.

In such a case, an orthodontist may need to extract a single tooth or even multiple teeth to create the room needed to move all of the teeth into the proper alignment. The need for this procedure varies on a case-by-case basis.

If the orthodontist intervenes early enough, tooth extraction may be avoided. In adolescents, the shape of the jaw may be altered through a device called a palate expander, which creates additional space in the upper jaw. In children, baby teeth may be removed strategically to encourage permanent teeth to drop in the proper position.

If you are an adult orthodontics patient, teeth extraction may be likely. The jaw is fully formed and the palate has closed by early adulthood. The palate cannot be expanded without a surgical intervention, so it is easier to create room in the jaw by removing a few teeth. During the course of treatment, the orthodontist will use certain techniques and devices to close the gaps left behind by the extracted teeth.

Fortunately, dental extractions are straightforward procedures, and patients typically heal within a matter of days. Furthermore, an extraction will not present a significant delay in your orthodontic treatment. Following the extraction, you can have the braces placed on the teeth within a matter of days.

Wisdom teeth present another potential concern for orthodontics patients. If you still have your wisdom teeth and are about to commence orthodontic treatment, you should consider having them removed before the braces go on. If the wisdom teeth are left in place, they could cause crowding during treatment, resulting in the patient spending additional time in braces. The wisdom teeth could also knock the teeth out of alignment after the braces come off, requiring the patient to undergo a second course of orthodontic treatment.