Do Adults Need Teeth Pulled Before Getting Braces?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Adult Orthodontics, braces, Ortho Questions

Adults Need Teeth Pulled Before Getting Braces

Dear Dr. Stosich.,
I’m 41 and am tired of my bad smile. I’m worried about getting braces at my age, though. My brother had braces recently, and his orthodontist had to pull teeth before starting treatment. Do all adults need teeth pulled before undergoing orthodontic treatment?

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15 March

2 Comments

Sticky

Does Jaw Size Affect Your Bite?

Posted by Michael S. Stosich, DMD, MS, MS

in Ortho Questions

Dear Dr. S.,
My son’s orthodontist says that it appears that his mouth is simply too small for his permanent teeth, which is why the orthodontist is recommending we remove some a couple permanent teeth to make room for braces to help the remaining teeth find the right location. Removing permanent teeth sounds like a big step to me. What should we do?

Sincerely,
Joe R.

Dear Joe,
A common reason why teeth get crowded in a patient’s mouth is in fact a jaw that is too small. While in many cases, braces alone are enough to correct a malocclusion, in a patient with severe crowding, and in whom the jaw has stopped growing, removal of one or more permanent teeth might be a way to correct the issue.