Metal Mouth Message Board

I tried searching for this topic on the forum but couldn't find any answers so I'll go ahead and post this. I got braces 3 weeks ago today, and my ortho has suggested that, for now, I not have any teeth extracted. I'm happy with this decision, but I'm just wondering: is anyone else out there going this same 'no extractions' route, and are you happy with how things are progressing? I've been reading other peoples' experiences and my fear is that I'll be 4 or 5 months in with no results, and then the ortho will decide we need to extract! Has anyone had good tooth movement without extractions?

I told my OD from the get go that I didn't want extractions, the expression on his face wasn't to promising when I said that. But after taking my records and studying them, he said its possible I could get a good result without extractions and he would re-evaluate that around half way through treatment. In the end I got to keep all my teeth .

I'm keeping all my teeth, have very severe crowding, and have already seen movement after just a week!

I am not in braces yet (probably next month), but the Orthodontist wont be extracting any of my teeth (which I am pleased about). But I did think "huh? but how are you going to be able to move my crowded teeth without making room first!?" . I will trust him and leave it to him, but if down the line he changed his mind and said we will need to extract then I will have to consider it.

I was looking at his website earlier, at his patients before and after photos, all of the patients in the photos didn't have any extractions and things aligned up fine.

jdwallac, that's such heartening news! I can feel movement going on, as my bite seems to change daily and my teeth feel loose, but nothing is noticeable outwardly yet. I'm hopeful that by Christmas I might be able to see a change. It's all very cool, isn't it?

Thanks for that info, Chrystal! My ortho said, too, that I may need to have extractions later, but that we'll go with all my teeth intact at first. I was thinking I might rather just have the extractions and go for it! But hearing this encouraging news has made my day. My new mantra will have to be "patience... patience... patience..."

my 7 and 10 are almost poping out, thats how crowded my upper teeth are...no extractions, well I did have my wisdom teeth removed. its been more than 3 weeks and I really dont see any change...I asked my ortho about it, he laughed and said it takes time..I had worst cases...I trust him, but if he decides to do extractions in the middle of the treatment, I'll be really pissed

The last time I had braces I had 2 top molars removed at the start of treatment.

The orthodontist tried hard to keep all my bottom teeth but they just wouldn't fit. He said I had too many big teeth in a small mouth So during treatment I had to get one of my bottom front teeth removed.

At the time I would've done anything and everything just to get my braces off, including extractions. Looking back I wish there could have been a way to keep all my teeth.

If your profile won't get worse by pushing your teeth out (and your mouth), you can probably get braces successfully without extractions. If there isn't lots of space (lots of crowding) just realize that there is nowhere but your teeth to go but out. So if you're okay with that, then by all means keep your teeth!

I have told this story many times.. I have a friend who got braces to straighten her teeth but all it did was push them all out so she can barely close her lips over them. Straight teeth, but wayyy protrusive now.

I went in seriously expecting the ortho to say I needed extractions due to my excessive overcrowding on the bottom but he said that it wasn't necessary. I was certainly surprised but they've all moved back into place nicely!

I have a small mouth, but haven't needed any extractions. I'm pretty sure I won't need extractions later on in treatment either.

Thanks, Noodle1, for the encouragement! This is the kind of testimonial I was hoping to hear.

VA5, I'm curious -- didn't your friend's palate get widened at all? That was what my ortho told me -- that we would try to widen my palate, to help make room. It seems so strange that an arch wire can provide that kind of force, but apparently it's a tenacious little thing! :-/

VA5 wrote:If your profile won't get worse by pushing your teeth out (and your mouth), you can probably get braces successfully without extractions. If there isn't lots of space (lots of crowding) just realize that there is nowhere but your teeth to go but out. So if you're okay with that, then by all means keep your teeth!

I have told this story many times.. I have a friend who got braces to straighten her teeth but all it did was push them all out so she can barely close her lips over them. Straight teeth, but wayyy protrusive now.

In my case the crowding was solved by widening the arch and pushing the front teeth back. And also some extra space was needed on bottom which was accomplished by doing ipr. My teeth are less protrusive than before.

My problem was overcrowding too, and I didn't have any extractions. I'm 5 months along now, my teeth are all straight, but I do find my lower row somewhat protrusive, coz i previously had a mild overjet and overbite, and I think I prefer that (the overjet) even though it's not the "ideal".
I've got some pics up on my braces thread, hope that helps- see link below.

Wow, msbee, you've made such great progress! I'm so glad I asked this question instead of silently wondering, and feeling a bit miserable about it. I'm much better now -- thanks everyone (except VA5 )!