Will the Extractions be worth it?

[ToonKid]

My extraction date is pending, Im going to visit my Oral surgeon tomorrow and Im not sure what will happen, i think he's gonna have a look at my mouth and review my Xrays and tell me my extraction date. (Although I would panic if he has everything he needs to do it the same day...)
But im really nervous about the whole thing i have a few questions about it...

- Will I look weird with just 1 Bicuspid? (4 Bi-Extraction)
- Will my face shrink?
- Will my face be out of symmetry? (not symmetrical)
- Are there any risks?
And most important...
- WILL IT HURT ALOT??

My friends who had extractions said it hurt alot..
And heres one more thing, the extractions are not for just creating space like other Orthos would do, its to correct my overbite and give me the chin i never actually begged for ._. but i do look alittle weird with a flat chin..

[Denise]

Honestly these are questions you're going to have to talk to your oral surgeon, and mostly your orthodontist, about. Only they have your xrays, and only they know what exactly they want to accomplish with your treatment.

You won't look strange with only one of a certain kind of tooth. If your orthodontist does their job right, your teeth and your bite will look fantastic once your braces treatment is finished. Everything with appear symmetrical. A tooth extraction won't make your face look sunken at all. If you go into my blog and look at some of my pics from early in my treatment you can see a huge gaping hole where a tooth was pulled on the side, it didn't cause any kind of difference in the shape of my face. The gap is almost closed now and my teeth don't look asymmetrical at all.

Far as the hurt, I also went to an oral surgeon for my extractions and at no point did I ever have any pain at all. Not even a dull ache. In fact, the meds they gave me to knock me out didn't even make me nauseous which is the biggest concern. I had my two teeth pulled at 8 a.m. and by 4:00 I was up making dinner. So, provided nothing goes wrong during the extractions, I think you'll come out of it pretty pain free

[Sunny]

I agree with Denise ... talk to your oral surgeon about this stuff and make sure you've got it clear in your mind what the expected outcomes are.

There are cases when an extraction or two or more are necessary. Good luck getting this sorted and your treatment going brilliantly!

[smylex]

Your face will not look weird with just one bicuspid, nor will it shrink. The doctor will do everything they can to make sure everything is symmetrical in the final result.

As with any surgery, there is always a risk - but then there's also risk walking across the street or taking a shower, isn't there?

Having teeth removed should not hurt, unless you have a sadistic dentist who refuses to give you any anesthetic or sedate you prior to extracting the teeth.

You may experience some soreness and swelling after the surgery, but this is to be expected. After all, you did have something physically removed from your body that's not supposed to be removed. Follow the instructions that the doctor gives you for after surgery and be sure to get any prescriptions they give you filled. This will help you get through your recovery painlessly.

I won't lie to you. There is a condition called "dry socket" that can occur after having a tooth extracted. This occurs when the blood clot that's over the bone comes loose and leaves the bone exposed. However, in my 5 years of working in dental clinics in my younger days, I noticed this was because of patients not following their instructions after surgery. Just follow the directions (they should be written or printed for you) and you'll be fine.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Having extractions in the right situation, with an orthodontist who is able to manage the space closure properly will yield excellent results. You should definitely speak to your orthodontist to discuss what the treatment outcomes will be with or without exos. Your oral surgeon won't really have much information about the outcomes, but is the expert on taking out the teeth .

[ToonKid]

I just talked with my Orthodontist and my Oral Surgeon, they told me that I will go through general anesthesia (deep sedating) during the extractions so no pain during but some discomfort afterwards, they gave me instructions on what to arrange and do 24 hrs before surgery which includes having an adult driving me home (i am a minor so i got that covered) and no food for 8 hrs, can't wear my contacts, and adult supervision 24 hrs post-surgery. They said that the extractions are NOT to just create space but to fix my overbite and the crowding of both canines on the bottom jaw. I wish i can show you pictures but their too gruesome to show (my teeth are horrible)
Well i guess i got my questions answered, thanks for the help everyone

[catgyrl]

I wish i can show you pictures but their too gruesome to show (my teeth are horrible)

Toonkid - trust me... we've pretty much seen it ALL here. I doubt there would be a picture you could post that would shock us. I understand your hesitancy, but keeping track of your progress via photos is a fantastic motivator as you start to see progress. If you don't want to post them, at least keep them for yourself.

As for the extractions, I too was hesitant when I was told I had to have a tooth pulled. I'm old enough to be your mother, and even as recently as yesterday I asked my ortho... AGAIN... "You sure this gap is gonna close, right?" He said, "Absolutely!" We gotta do what we gotta do. Down the line when we have our hard-earned beautiful smile we'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Good luck to you. If you follow the oral surgeon's instructions, you should be just fine.

-Cathy

[yohkita]

Hi, I am 44 years old and just started metal braces in Feb 2012. I had an appointment to get 4 teeth extracted but ended up canceling because a friend of mine scared me to pieces. She had her braces after 40 and had 4 teeth pulled, and according to her, not-so-supple over 40 skins and muscles will not be able to adjust to the extraction, and your face will just collapse and sag. She says that the extraction is the most regrettable thing she has ever done to herself. Has anyone experience anything like this?

[BlondeAddiction]

Hi, I am 44 years old and just started metal braces in Feb 2012. I had an appointment to get 4 teeth extracted but ended up canceling because a friend of mine scared me to pieces. She had her braces after 40 and had 4 teeth pulled, and according to her, not-so-supple over 40 skins and muscles will not be able to adjust to the extraction, and your face will just collapse and sag. She says that the extraction is the most regrettable thing she has ever done to herself. Has anyone experience anything like this?

The sunk-in face/ extraction debate is pretty common on this site. Some haven't experienced it but many have. I hope I don't have to find out cuz I'm 9mos in and no extractions (yet). Crossin my fingers!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

It is unfortunate that there are times that teeth are removed when they shouldn't be and other times not removed when they should be.

Sometimes, teeth must be removed for crowding to avoid periodontal issues and other times for a change in facial profile. Here are a couple of examples. Note that the patient who had four teeth removed for crowding actually has a wider arch than prior to extractions, so the facial profile does not always have to change. It all depends on whether the front teeth are retracted to close the space or if back teeth are protracted.

Extractions for protrusive lips to produce good facial balance: Before and After - MCO, Markham, Stouffville, Richmond Hill, Uxbridge, Toronto | Orthodontist, Braces, Invisalign | MCO Orthodontics
Extractions due to severe crowding: Before and After - MCO, Markham, Stouffville, Richmond Hill, Uxbridge, Toronto | Orthodontist, Braces, Invisalign | MCO Orthodontics

[josie]

yohkita, if you're worried about whether or not extractions are 'right', do consult with as many different orthos as you can. Don't tell them what previous orthos have said until after you've heard their recommendations. If they ALL say, unanimously, that extractions are right in your case, then you can probably rest assured that they are.