Palate Expander vs 4 Pre-molar extractions?

[giamia101]

Hey guys,

So my following post was about extractions and I was afraid to go through with it for obvious reasons...
However, I took the advice provided by all you wonderful people and went to go get a second and third opinion on the topic.
However, I went to look for a functional orthodontist rather than a traditional , and this orthodontist said that she is able to fix my teeth using an expander
(Im 19)
--
( SIDENOTE: Functional orthodontists work with your whole face and care about how your face will look as a whole in the end rather than a traditional orthodontists who only cares about straightening your teeth)

She said that the extractions would get rid of my bimaxillary protrusion but the expanders will widen my palate, make enough room, and straighten my teeth, but not necessarily fix my protrusion.

What do you guys think I should go for? I do wanna fix my protrusion, but I don't like the risks of extractions. What would you guys choose?
Thanks
Xx.

[oldfart]

I've honestly never heard of an orthodontist not caring about the facial structure outcome. Unless it was just a dentist practicing orthodontics.

[sirwired]

There is no "vs." when it comes to "functional" orthodontics vs. "traditional" orthodontics. The sole criteria to be a "functional" orthodontist is being an orthodontist, and paying to have new business cards made up. ALL orthodontists receive extensive training on facial structure and function (and are evaluated on it.) ALL orthodontists use functional appliances when they deem it necessary.

If it were me, I'd go for the optimal result. Braces are expensive enough as it is.

If you need help choosing an ortho, I have a whole sticky on it at the top of this forum: "Avoiding Quackery, Exaggeration, and Malpractice"

Extractions are not as risky as horror stories on the Internet would have you think; there's a whole long thread on here with celebrities who have a beautiful smile, and got it through extractions (it's easy to spot if you know what to look for.) And, speaking personally, it's my wife's smile that first attracted me to her, and she had extractions as a child... we've been married sixteen years now.

[Nozzelnut]

Going off my experience with braces over my lifetime; I'd opt for the expander instead of extractions.

Retraction orthodontics worked ok for me right up until they didn't and other things caused other issues related to limited tongue room.

[Lovespain5]

Hey guys,

So my following post was about extractions and I was afraid to go through with it for obvious reasons...
However, I took the advice provided by all you wonderful people and went to go get a second and third opinion on the topic.
However, I went to look for a functional orthodontist rather than a traditional , and this orthodontist said that she is able to fix my teeth using an expander
(Im 19)
--
( SIDENOTE: Functional orthodontists work with your whole face and care about how your face will look as a whole in the end rather than a traditional orthodontists who only cares about straightening your teeth)

She said that the extractions would get rid of my bimaxillary protrusion but the expanders will widen my palate, make enough room, and straighten my teeth, but not necessarily fix my protrusion.

What do you guys think I should go for? I do wanna fix my protrusion, but I don't like the risks of extractions. What would you guys choose?
Thanks
Xx.

I don't have photos of your profile. If your protrusion is very slight and you don't suffer from lip incompetence, extraction is not compulsory.
But if you have lip incompetence and a weak chin (as I had before treamtent), the palate expander will worsen your problem and 4 premolar extractions are highly recommanded.

[Woohoo068]

Which country are you ? I'm trying to find a functional ortho in the uk,...

any one have any recommendations ? Thank you