Non-Extraction Orthodontics
Non-extraction orthodontics is a holistic dentistry service in which dentists try to straighten and align overcrowded teeth without extracting any of them. It is an alternative approach to teeth alignment in which dentists try to widen the jaw in order to give more room for the teeth to grow normally. A non-extraction orthodontics approach is typically taken when an individual has protrusive or overcrowded teeth because the dental arch is too small to accommodate all of them.
What to Expect with Non-Extraction Methods
One commonly used approach to protrusive teeth has been to remove the four bicuspids so as to give the remaining teeth more space to grow and get properly aligned. With non-extraction orthodontics, dentists use retainers, expanders and special dental braces to gradually widen the spaces between the teeth until all of them are properly aligned. It is a process that could, sometimes, take several years. However, the results are generally believed by many to be more satisfactory than extraction because the alignment does not require any permanent teeth to be extracted. The effects of non-extraction orthodontics are also thought to be more permanent than can be achieved through extraction.
Perceived Disadvantages
Though proponents of non-extraction orthodontics argue that their approach is better, others who support a tooth extraction approach to protrusive teeth argue against it. One of the criticisms against non-extraction approaches is that the forced expansion of the dental arch can sometimes weaken the stability of the teeth and the gum tissue. Opponents of non-extraction approaches also argue that the approach does little to correct problems such as overbite and unusually large teeth. The amount of time that non-extraction approaches require is also believed to be another disadvantage because of the potential cost implications.
Two-Phased Approach
Non-extraction orthodontics approaches usually involve two distinct phases. The first phase begins in relatively early childhood, when braces and expanders are used on primary teeth used to gain space and to expand dental arches. The second phase begins when the individual reaches adolescence and all the primary teeth are gone. During this phase, the dentist adds on accessories such as headgears, herbst appliances and dental rubber bands to accelerate the desired expansion of the dental arch. Sometimes, achieving the desired results during the second phase could take several years.
Non-extraction orthodontics has been practiced for almost as long as regular orthodontics and today is a fairly widely used approach to addressing a serious dental problem.