Braces - pull teeth or expand?

[TxJasmine]

A few months ago I asked about the cost of braces and got some great responses. Now I have another question... my kids are 8 and 9 and both of them need braces.

The 8 year old needs expansion on the top and bottom. The 9 year old only needs expansion on the top. The orthodontist gave me two options for her - either expand the top teeth or pull two teeth. Obviously pulling teeth is quicker and cheaper.

When I was a child many decades ago, I had two teeth pulled and didn't suffer, except that I do seem to have larger gaps between teeth than I would like. However, these days it seems like most orthodontists don't like pulling teeth. Why? Is there a good medical reason, or is it just because they don't make as much money from pulling teeth as from braces?

My question is - did any of you have your kids' teeth pulled, and if so, do you have any regrets about choosing that option rather than expanding?

Thanks!

 

[caitycaity]

However, these days it seems like most orthodontists don't like pulling teeth. Why?

i'd like to know too!

i am 26. i had braces when i was in middle school and had 2 teeth pulled in preparation. i haven't had any negative affects and i don't have any gaps in my teeth.

i think braces are a total rip off though, since my teeth have moved right back to where they started (overbite). my ortho told me i didn't have to continue wearing my retainer after the first year. guess he was wrong. same thing happened to my sister.

 

[DemonLlama]

Well, our orthodontist has sent DD for six pulled teeth so far, with more to come. So there is no reluctance around here.

I ended up with 12 pulled, four permanent. Small mouths, regular sized teeth -- something has got to give.

If pulling will forego braces, yank 'em. A couple of days, a milkshake for dinner the first night, and you're done.

 

[stinkerbelle]

wait - permanant teeth being removed?
never heard of that.
I had 8 baby teeth yanked before I had braces put on...but that was it

 

[SC Minnie]

I had 6 permanent teeth pulled before getting braces- as DemonLlama said small mouth and regular sized teeth. My teeth have shifted a little but not very much.

Don't know why they don't want to pull anymore. DD is going to need them especially on the bottom- teeth are crowded.

 

[caitycaity]

wait - permanant teeth being removed?

and i still had to have my wisdom teeth removed. i have two less teeth on the top now.

 

[chrissyk]

I had a top expander. It worked, but it was painful. My orthodontist did not give my parents the option of pulling teeth in leiu of the expander. In my case, one side of my upper jaw curved inward. The expander corrected that.

 

[horner5]

From what I gather, there is a new school vs. old school thing going on with orthodontics, these days. When I had braces 16 years ago, they pulled 4 of my teeth-permanent ones. Both my son (13) and my daughter (9) had braces put on a year ago. My daughter's mouth was so overcrowded! However, her orthodontist said they don't believe in pulling teeth anymore unless it is absolutely necessary and they want to work with the teeth that exist. It honestly didn't take long for her to complete the Phase 1 to expand her jaw-no weird devices or anything, just the braces. I was amazed and her mouth looks 100% better--it absolutely justifies those wonderful orthodontic bills! I think her braces will probably be on for another 12-16 months. Also, her orthodontist said that 8-9 is a great age to get braces because their jaw is still growing and the orthodontist can "mold" it as it grows with the braces.

Hope this helps!

 

[Maleficent13]

I had four permanent teeth pulled. My teeth moved where they wanted them too, and I have no gaps to this day (and that was many years ago).

 

[ziggystardust]

When I was younger I had both an expander and braces. I don't believe in expanders. I feel that they are trying to make your mouth a shape that its not supposed to be. I was a mouth breather as they called it, so the roof of my mouth ended up being much higher than it should have been. I ended up having braces way too long (like over 7 yrs) and as soon as I got them off those teeth went right back. Now I will admit that my retainer use wasn't 24/7 but I did wear it. My DBF also had an expander, and he wore his retainer all the time, the same thing happened.

My sister got a tooth or 2 pulled while she was going through the braces faze, now all she has is one small gap that you can only see if she pulls her lip back with her finger.

Now that I am 23, I have braces again. This time the orthodontist is working with my mouth as it is. I've had my braces since Sept and my teeth are perfectly straight.

I can't tell you a definate answer, that is up to you. But hopefully the more stories you hear the easier it will be to make that decision.

goodluck!

 

[KMH1]

I had a lot of teeth problems growing up...my baby teeth weren't falling out, so my dentist kept pulling them out to "encourage" my permanent teeth to come in. He pulled out 14 of my baby teeth (the tooth fairy was extra nice to me).

Then I had an expanding W on the roof of my mouth to widen my palette and that caused me to lose my hearing in my right ear. I almost had to get tubes until the ear doctor figured out it was the expanding W causing the problems. The solution? Chew gum for fifteen minutes a day! Which of course went against the orthodontist's orders, so I could only chew Fredent (sp?), because it wouldn't stick to the metal.

Apparently my mouth was still small (ironic, I know! ), so I had to have four permanent molars pulled and my wisdom teeth dug out too.

My teeth were an absolute mess. My eye teeth came in high, so they looked like fangs. I couldn't wait for the day I got braces, but I had to wear them for three years.

Looking back on all this, I would do it again in a heartbeat. My dad jokes that I have a million dollar smile.

Amy

 

[Cinderellagrl]

I have been through just about every orthodonic/dental situation with my DD13 and myself. She had a very narrow jaw. She had the expander before they applied the braces, so they cemented the expander onto her molars. I had to turn the appliance every night for a few weeks with the "key". She never complained about any pain. The only thing that bothered her was trying to learn how to talk & eat with it in the beginning. After about 2 weeks, she had it mastered.

I had braces myself in high school but am having problems now with my jaw. They refuse to remove any of my permanent teeth to apply the braces. They want me to have the SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palate Expansion) surgery. It is VERY costly and not to mention...the thought of it. As we grow older, the bones in our jaw kind of "seal", therefore they cannot just attach the palate expander to an adult (or older teen) as they do to children. They have to make surgical incisions in your jaw bones to allow the room for expansion. Yes, in other words, they have to crack your jaw. I've been putting this off as long as possible.

So, my advice...please, please, please (coming from someone who really wishes I wasn't in this position that I'm in) do the expansion. You may have her teeth removed to make the room now, but that doesn't mean that she might not have more growth later on in life & still need the expansion, which would then mean surgical.

 

[chris1gill]

My poor son had TEN TEETH PULLED this past Monday... the poor kid. Four were permanent & six were babies. The top braces have gone on but need to be wired... we have to wait for the bottom braces because of his overbite they need to fix

If you have a small mouth, you've got no choice other than to pull them... our DS has a tiny mouth with regular size teeth... seems genetic!

 

[doxdogy]

My mouth was to small for all my teeth. I had to two top teeth and two bottom teeth pulled. I wore braces for 2 1/2 years. After it was all said and done, no gaps.

 

[Pete's Mom]

TXJasmine - I am going through the same thing with my 8 year old. I think pulling the teeth is the best option because it will probably allow for his permanent to come in straighter. He has his dad big teeth, but my little mouth.

I got braces when I was 26. Too many teeth for such a little mouth. I had 8 permanent teeth removed and STILL had to have the top expander put in. I wore my braces for 3 years (should have been two, but I hated wearing bands.)

I am trying to spare Pete as much agony as possible with braces by doing what we can now to get them to come in naturally. So far he has had 3 teeth pulled, but we are going back in a few weeks to do more.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

well, I had 6 perm teeth pulled when I was 16. I then had braces for 4 years and after that I still had to have surgery on my jaw. I was a mouth breather and that can stunt the growth of the jaw. If I had an expander I would not had to have my jaw broken and pulled forward. I would never wish that on my enemy.

 

[Sleepy]

My husband had 4 teeth pulled instead of getting braces. He has no gaps, but you can definitely tell he had certain teeth pulled....all behind the canine teeth. Just doesn't look right.

 

[Aimeedyan]

My orthodontist didn't seem to have a problem with it - I had 4 teeth pulled prior to getting braces put on 4 years ago. I don't have any gaps, I just had too many teeth. We are about ready to remove my braces, and everything fits nicely =)

 

[janette]

My 13yo DD was given a spacer when some of her molars came out to keep the back molars from moving forward. They will then use this space to move her front teeth back when she goes to braces.

Not sure what makes the difference I know they've said they may want to pull some of 10yo DD's teeth but right now are watching so see how it works out on it's own.

I think I might get another opinion, not sure how they can make those decisions before the permanent are in.

 

[rascalmom]

Boy do I hear a lot of these stories - dh is a dentist & both my dd's have had/ have braces.

The newer school of thought is to try to avoid pulling teeth if possible. Several reasons- partly because it can give an adult face a flatter, less naturaly appearance. Partly to help prevent future tmj problems. Partly because they have improved the techniques for the expanders in recent years.

That said, each person's mouth is different & only a good orthodontist can decides what is best. I would not go to a general dentist for ortho. If you don't feel comfortable/convinced by what the ortho has to say - go for a 2nd opinion. This is not unusual & the 1st ortho should let you take your x-rays/models with you.