Canine or Molars?

[emelee]

Hi, I'm new here, so I didn't know exactly which section to post this in. Hope I chose the right one. Anyway.

I'm getting braces soon, and have been to about five orthodontists already. My mom somehow rejected all of them except for the last one. So my orthodontist thinks that I should get my all four of my second molars (both top and bottom) pulled out to make room for my teeth for braces. She also said that if I get them removed, there is a good chance that when my wisdom teeth come in, I won't have to get them removed because there will be enough space left over for them to grow in.

My mom spoke to some of her friends and another orthodontist and they said that I should get my canine teeth taken out instead. Now she thinks that my current orthodontist is wrong and is just using me as a guinea pig to see if removing my molars really work. She thinks I won't be able to chew after I get my back molars removed.

I don't find any sense at all in removing canine teeth and really think she is being ridiculous. Does anyone know which teeth are better to get removed and if my mom is right? It would also be helpful if information on which teeth you personally got removed was provided.

[mariahfromchicago]

Canine teeth? Removed? I don't think so. The molars are the ones usually removed?

[Zoso]

You're sure that this orthodontist said the second molars and not rather the second premolars? Removal of four premolars would be by far more common. As to the idea of instead extracting the canines, this would, in most cases, be a poor choice. The canine teeth have a very special function in helping to guide the bite (referred to as "canine guidance" or "canine protected occlusion") and none of the other teeth can perform this same role.

[Sunny]

Welcome emelee!

It's rare to have canine teeth removed for the reasons that Zoso has written.

Good luck getting this sorted and having your treatment started!