Canine Extraction??

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#1 Post by **pearls** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:30 am

is there such a thing as having your canines extracted (from the upper teeth)?? If your mouth was crowded and needed extraction, could they take out the canines if preferred? I hate my canines, as they are so big and weirdly shaped compared to the rest of my teeth... i really don't think i would be satisfied with the end results of having braces, still having those big canines (and i have already had them filed down from my dentist. (as you may have gathered i have not yet started my braces treatment). so then by having the canines extraced, the premolars (i think is what theyre called!) would replace the position of the canines.
ta, pearls.
p.s. sorry if this is a silly question!

#2 Post by **ibraceface** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:36 am

I would say no.

I hated my canines too and preferred them to be out-- but my ortho informed me that they are the strongest teeth in your mouth (have the longest roots) and are needed for chewing.

She said without my canines, my other teeth would be more susecptible to wear and tear and breaking, etc.

She knew I hated my pointy canine-- and suggested I keep it and she would file it down and round it off at the end of my treatment. I was happy with her suggestion!

#3 Post by **mihaelici** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:57 am

My upper canines are the main reason I wanted to have braces. I talked to a dentist from my home town, who first suggested extractions, but then, talking to a technician as well, it didn't seem such a good idea, they said it was a too "difficult" process and they don't want to get involved.

After that, I went for another checking, to a different dentist, and she said "No way!" to canine extraction. The third dentist I went to said that the canines are one of the most important teeth and that the solution would be braces.
So here I am, braced for about 3 months, with my canines "still on" (but 2 premolars off), with no results regarding the canines, but with results regarding the central incisors

So I think there are not many dentists who would say yes to canine extraction..

Cheers!

#4 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:00 am

Extracting your canines is not common unless it is a milk/baby tooth. You may find that once you start treatment, your canines won't be as prominent in your smile. I used to think I had a HUGE dracula tooth! Now that my teeth are better aligned, my canine looks normal.

#5 Post by **Lisa65** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:38 am

I am pretty sure that they will not remove canines if at all possible. They have the longest roots of all the teeth and are needed to give structure to your arch and also aid in biting and chewing your food.

You might well find that as your teeth align, your canines will not look so odd. I had Dracula fangs as a kid which were partly corrected by a removable appliance and extractions, but they were still very prominent. Now after being braced for a year, they are much less apparent.

#6 Post by **KK Cat** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:53 pm

I'm another person who had a bit of a Dracula thing going on. Have a look at my photos (click WWW below to see my 'story') and you will see how in a few short months those canines were brought into line after extraction of the next premolar. Mine are still very pointy but I think they will be filed down a bit when braces come off. Even if not, they really don't look as bad when in line with the other teeth.

#7 Post by **ngbraces** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:24 pm

I had my upper right canine extracted when I was in my teen because it was coming out under the top of my inside mouth, not within my arch. Back then and back home, dental braces were very uncommon, then extraction seemed the only choice. So, I grew up with my upper teeth having only one canine on the left. My teeth on upper right, without canine, spread out evenly and look fine. However the left canine was pointing out and pushing the left lateral incisor inward. When I first saw my ortho, she told me to fix my crookedness, a tooth needed to be pulled out. I asked to have my left canine extracted to get even with the right side, but she said canine usually has long root, its extraction may cause that part of my face collapse!! Therefore, my premolar was pulled off instead. Now I have 2 premolars, no canine on my right, and 1 premolar, 1 canine on my left. This sounds odd but after more than a year, they are round in arch and look ok. At the end of the brace process, my ortho will file down the left canine a little bit to make it blend with other teeth. So, I think if you have braces, your canines will be in line, and with some touch-up from your ortho, they will look fine.