Removing any permanent teeth is a big deal, and the same goes for premolars as well. The upper and lower arch premolars help grind food and often assist in maintaining the appearance of your smile. Considering that, it’s no wonder that people are fearful about removing their premolars when getting braces treatment.
Dental braces are one such treatment that many people choose to avoid because sometimes it requires the removal of premolars. While tooth extraction is sometimes necessary for orthodontic treatments, it’s important to remember that every action has a reaction, whether it’s positive or negative. So, is it safe to remove premolars for braces or one should completely avoid it for the betterment of their oral health? We’ll find out the facts in this blog.
Is It Safe to Remove Premolars for Braces?
Premolar teeth help chew foods and also contribute to achieving an aesthetic smile. However, one can live without them as other teeth are there for chewing food and braces will help in improving a smile and correcting the bite issues.
While removing premolars is not ideal, it’s also not a bad thing if that’s what your orthodontic treatment demands. Most people avoid this treatment because they are afraid of the premolar extraction face change effects.
A study published in the Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry claims that Bicuspid extraction (procedure to remove premolars) results in no change in the patient’s facial appearance, which most people are afraid of.
This means premolars removed for braces before and after results will not have noticeable differences. Still, there’s a long line of patients who choose to wear braces without removing teeth such as premolars.
Can We Put Braces without Removing Teeth?
As we know removing teeth such as premolars is not ideal, and not all orthodontic issues require tooth extraction. One can put on braces without removing teeth if it’s not crucial for the treatment and the orthodontist suggests that. However, if your dentist advises you for teeth removal, follow his or her instructions to get safe and better results.
Sometimes patients need 4 teeth extraction for braces and their before and after results are amazing. This happens because there are reasons why a dentist uses tooth extraction methods for braces, which most are not aware of.
Why Premolars are Removed for Braces and When Is It Required?
Is it necessary to remove premolars for braces? When it is required, yes! We know premolar removal for braces is crucial in some cases, and here are the reasons:
1. Crowding
It’s a condition in which patients’ teeth are too close to each other, forcing them to overlap. While applying braces, the dentist needs space for the teeth to shift and move in the correct position. To create this space, the dental expert sometimes removes the premolars.
2. Axial Inclination
When the teeth are tilted slightly inward or outward in relation to the jawbone position, it’s called axial inclination. The dentist uses premolar extraction to correct the axial inclination of the anterior teeth. This is because it provides room for the affected teeth to align with the rest of the teeth.
3. Uneven Bite
It is a dental condition in which the upper teeth don’t align with the lower set of teeth. This creates difficulty while chewing and may also affect the smile. While braces can fix this issue, they need space for the upper set of teeth to adjust and align with the lower teeth. This is why sometimes the dentist removes premolars before applying the braces.
These are the most common conditions when premolar teeth are removed for braces. Generally, the main purpose of removing premolars is to create space for the teeth to move and shift to their correct position so that the patient can enjoy the benefits of cosmetic dentistry. Most of the times, this is when premolar extraction is required for the patient.
To further understand the safety profile of premolar extraction and whether there are any alternatives, you need to have a complete understanding of the premolar’s role in the dental arch movement and functionality.
Understanding Premolars and Their Role
Premolars are teeth that sit between the canine and molars. We have eight premolars, four on each arch. They are larger and wider than the canine and their functions involve:
1. Grinding and Chewing – These teeth are ideal for grinding and chewing because of their flat surface and small ridges.
2. Works as Transition Teeth – We know that premolars are located between the canine and molars, which makes them transition teeth.
3. Maintains Bite – Premolar teeth distribute the force from chewing evenly across the mouth to balance the bite.
4. Support for Jaw Structure – It also plays a role in improving facial aesthetics by supporting jaw structure.
So, these were the functions of premolars that seem pretty crucial, and that is why some experts don’t allow its extraction for braces in spite of the clinical evidence of its safety.
The Safety and Risks of Premolar Extraction
Determining whether is it safe to remove premolars for braces or not depends on the patient’s oral health and needs. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to remove the premolars, and studies claim that it doesn’t affect the facial structure.
However, there are some other risks too that anyone who is undergoing braces treatment with premolar extraction should understand.
The absence of premolars can cause overuse of front teeth, leading to over-retraction. This may result in the natural teeth misalignment and affect the smile too.
We know premolars distribute the bite force, and that’s why removal of these teeth can cause possible issues with bite. Problems with bites will automatically lead to discomfort in the jaw bone, which can be mild to moderate.
Removing teeth for braces side effects might include permanent tooth loss as well, which is the most common and irreversible effect. You can’t get your original teeth back later in life after the removal.
These are some premolar extraction side effects and cons that everyone should be aware of before opting for the treatment. After knowing these negative effects, many of you must be wondering about alternatives to premolar extraction and fortunately, there are some.
4 Alternatives to Premolar Extraction
Tooth extraction or pulling is not a pleasant experience for anyone, and that’s why it becomes obvious for people to look for alternatives. Depending on your dental case, the orthodontist might be able to set you up for any of these other alternatives:
1. Damon Braces
It is a unique type of orthodontic treatment that allows the teeth to make room naturally, which reduces the need for extraction. This is why it suits those patients who suffer from crowding and misalignment.
2. Invisalign System
This modern dental approach uses clear, removable aligners instead of traditional metal braces. During the treatment, the patient wears a series of these removal aligners, which gradually make space for the teeth to adjust, avoiding the need for extraction. This system is also beneficial for people with issues like crowding and misalignment. Some dentists use it for minor tooth rotation too.
3. Palatal Expanders
It is an orthodontic device that widens the narrow upper jaw. The palatal expander pushes the two sides of the jaw apart which creates space in the mouth. This orthodontic device is mostly beneficial for kids and teens because their bones are in the growing stage.
4. Tooth Shaving
Those who need quick and painless treatment for their misaligned teeth can opt for this treatment. It is the process of gently grinding the teeth to create spaces and make them fit better, without an extraction. However, shaving is only helpful for mild cases; it can’t help against severe crowding or large tooth size discrepancies.
Keep in mind that all these alternatives are not suitable for every patient. Some have to undergo the procedure of tooth extraction anyhow. To know whether you are that candidate or not and what are your options for braces treatment, consult the best dental clinic for braces in Patna.
FAQs
Following are some of the questions you might have regarding the removal of premolars and how safe it will be for your dental health and facial aesthetics. It’s worth going through them before you choose to get your treatment plan started.
1. Does removing premolars change face shape?
As per the scientific studies done on this topic, removing premolars doesn’t have any effect on face shape.
2. Does it hurt to get premolars removed?
Removing the premolar can be a slightly uncomfortable experience for some people. Ideally, it should not hurt because local anesthesia is used during the procedure.
3. Can I live without a premolar?
Yes, you can live without premolars, and it will also not have any serious consequences if it’s removed for the benefit of orthodontic treatment and the proper alignment of teeth.
4. Is it OK to remove the first premolar teeth?
Yes, removing the first premolar teeth is ok if it’s done for orthodontic purposes. It will provide extra space for the rest of the teeth to adjust.
5. Will teeth shift after premolar extraction?
Yes, teeth will shift after the premolar extraction because that is the whole point of removing it. The absence of a premolar creates spaces that allow the other teeth to shift and adjust.
Don’t Wait Any Longer to Get a Confident, Straighter Smile!
Opting for braces is a big step, especially if your dentist advises you to extract the premolars for it. Knowing whether it is safe to remove premolars for braces or not is crucial because one can’t get a permanent tooth back.
While studies show that premolar extraction doesn’t have any effect on the facial structure, it has some other possible cons according to other experts that need to be considered. In this blog, we have discussed those side effects along with alternatives to premolar extractions. At last, it is always advisable to talk to a dental expert or orthodontist before deciding whether to go for tooth removal for braces or not.
If you reside in Patna, Dr. Aishwarya Roy is the best dental expert that you can consult for dental braces treatment in Patna. Her qualifications, experience, and recognition that she gets is enough proof of her expertise.
Recently, Dr. Aishwarya Roy has also been honoured with the prestigious ‘Times Icons of Health 2024’ by The Times of India. Not only this, the dental expert has also been honoured with the Bihar Gaurav Samman Award for her contributions. So, hurry and book an appointment, if you want to get treated by an experienced dentist who has extensive know-how of the dental treatments.
