10 years ago, the extractions of healthy teeth were a common practice among orthodontists. 1/3 of the patients would have to suffer the experience of an extraction of one or more healthy teeth, purely for orthodontic reasons.
Tooth extractions are today an outdated method of treatment and it should be the last treatment choice of every orthodontist. Tooth extractions can cause a series of problems and an extraction treatment is a treatment full of compromises. These compromises regard the occlusion of the teeth, the facial aesthetics and mainly the stability of the treatment result through the years.
Fortunately, today the percentage of the extraction treatments is less than 3%. This means that less than 3 patients every 100 receive an orthodontic treatment, where a tooth extraction is necessary. Due to the development of the science and of the methods used, we have the ability to construct new appliances that fit our orthodontic needs and give the patient a nice smile with the less pain and discomfort.
Thus, we are able to use appliances like the one in the photo (Pendulum) and avoid the tooth extractions or the use of a head gear.
