Metal Mouth Message Board

I am just starting orthodontic treatment for Class III underbite (my top jaw is too far back and my lower jaw protrudes a little) and for crowding of the teeth on the bottom.
I am missing my 1st molar on the bottom right (extracted 8 years ago) and my orthodontist wants me to extract a bottom premolar on the left because that area is too crowded...

My question, if I will be having the jaw surgery do I really need to extract that tooth?

Is it common that even if your having surgery you still need to extract teeth?

Does ur doctor plan to move only upper jaw forward? So this will not help crowded teeth on bottom. See if another doctor does agree.

Hi evelinany,

My jaw/teeth problems are very similar to yours, and my Ortho is planning to extract/shave down one of my lower front teeth for to deal with crowding also.

From what I understand Ortho's need to get the best 'fit' in the way the uppers sit on the lowers before surgery, as apparently there is a risk of the result being 'unstable' otherwise, and you don't want your lovely new jaw alignment sliding off because of pressures by the teeth/bite being in the wrong place.

Personally I feel that if I need to lose a tooth then so be it. Why don't you ask your otho about it and see what he says?

I can't imagine they'll pull teeth unless they have to...

Am lucky, only having my Wisdoms out at the time of surgery.

xxx

Hi evelinany,

I also have an underbite, and so far I have had 8 teeth extracted (impressive, huh? ). Four of them are wisdom teeth, the rest are "number 4" teeth on each jaw, as my ortho called them.

I think the number of teeth extracted depends. As my upper jaw also protrudes a little bit (in order to compensate for my underbite), my Ortho decided to straighten it first by extracting teeth and then braces, before the surgery.

Now, after about 7 months braces, my upper and lower jaw have the total gap of 8mm and 7mm respectively. I don't know why it is that slow. However, the good thing is that, my upper jaw seems to straighten somehow. I hope I will have everything ready for the surgery this May...

Too tired of the braces and underbite already!

Well I got the tooth extracted 2 days ago an braces came on yesterday. I am in some pain =/ stacking up on tylenol but glad I have finally started with this.