So to continue with the last post. Yes, I know I’m a Charlotte dentist, and not orthodontist. But I still find the current state of moving teeth (orthodontics) to be as much an art as science. As I discussed before, straight teeth are not the only ultimate goal. The final ‘profile’ of the patient is just as important. Extracting a bunch of teeth to expedite treatment ultimately only helps one person….the orthodontist. When does someone need to have teeth pulled? It sure varies on a case-by-case basis, but one thing is absolutely true…..it happens WAY too often! Here’s a ‘normal’ profile after orthodontic treatment (with NO extractions!):

Had a great discussion with a local specialist about the referral pattern of some orthodontists.  It seems their common treatment plan is to automatically extract 4 bicuspids, place brackets, and then pull everything ‘back’.  In the end, yes, the teeth are straight.  But at what expense?  Take a look at the profiles of some of these cases after treatment.  Instead of being full, pleasing, naturally contoured profiles it looks like their whole lower face is ‘pulled back’.

This is disturbing enough, but often these same othodontists are too quick to refer to the oral surgeon for jaw surgery to move the upper, lower, or often both jaws into alignment.  Does this occur too often?  I’m certainly not an orthodontist but in my opinion….yes.  We’ll talk more about it later.  Watch for more before and after smiles here:  before and after