dental crowding

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT CREATES beautiful smiles. Whether extraction or nonextraction therapy is recommended by your orthodontist, your smile and facial profile will blossom just the same.

The decision for extraction versus non-extraction orthodontic treatment is made for a variety of reasons. In Class I cases, dental arches with crowding of 4 mm or less need not have extractions in general. Crowding of 5-9 mm may need extraction depending on where the predicted final position of the incisors will be and the impact on facial profile.

Crowding more than 10 mm may require extraction. For these patients, the amount of crowding virtually equals the amount of tooth mass being removed so there is very little effect on lip position and facial appearance.

The presence of protrusion in addition to crowding makes the extraction decision even more necessary. Moving teeth into an ideal position with protrusion requires additional dental arch space. Most everyone wants to look good, and not have their teeth appear “buck.” Lips will move approximately two-thirds the distance that protrusive incisors are moved back.

The idea that extraction leads to excessive incisor retraction, narrower arches, or airway problems is not well supported in the scientific literature. Nonextraction therapy also need not lead to incisor protrusion or arches that are too wide. Your orthodontist will diagnose and develop a treatment plan your case to get you the best orthodontic treatment outcome.

Bring Us Your Questions

Whether extraction or non-extraction, if you have questions about the benefits of orthodontic treatment, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Call us at 925-757-9000 for a free consultation. Visit www.clubbraces.com to learn more about our office.

Whether extraction or non-extraction, your big, broad smile will improve from orthodontic treatment. Whether braces, Invisalign, or retainers are right for you, your new smile will blossom and you’ll be smiling ear to ear.

Your smile is our inspiration.

WHAT IF SOMEONE HAD done short-term ortho on Jackie O?

The result would have been hideous. An obvious Class II Division 2 skeletal malocclusion, if a dental care provider had straightened Jackie O's tipped in and crowded upper front teeth without surgery or extractions she would have ended up looking like Bart Simpson.

This is something a real orthodontist would never do. Yet, primary providers, uneducated in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, offer short term orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign to skeletal Class II patients without correcting the underlying skeletal problem.

Short-term Orthodontic Treatment May Reveal Other Issues

Straightening of severely tipped and crowded upper front teeth in a Class II Division 2 bite actually unmasks the horizontal jaw discrepancy giving these patients a new appearance of "buck teeth" following short-term ortho.

If left without moving the lower jaw forward or upper tooth extraction, non-correction of the underlying skeletal problem leads to many new problems including:

• Poor facial appearance
• Lip incompetence, open lips
• Lip biting
• Speech problems
• Front tooth display at rest
• Increased risk of front tooth trauma
• Lower tooth overeruption
• Upper palate biting
• Impinging deep bite
• Poor bite
• Excessive tooth wear

Correcting Short-term Ortho Mistakes Can Be Costly

Once the severe overjet and overbite is worsened by short term ortho, most patients seek orthodontic correction with an orthodontist. Unfortunately, many of these patients have already paid $4,500 to a provider of short term ortho. Now, a real orthodontist must tell the patient that their orthodontic treatment must be redone correctly for an additional cost of $7,000. This is a very unfortunate and uncomfortable situation.

Patients are being hurt physically, emotionally, and financially by not getting initial diagnosis and treatment by an orthodontist. Once this happens, trust in the primary provider of short-term ortho is gone forever.

Don't be one of these unfortunate patients. Do your research and get information about orthodontists and orthodontic treatment.

If You Have Questions, Contact An Orthodontist

If you have questions regarding short-term orthodontic treatment, seek orthodontic care with a real orthodontist, a dentist who has completed an additional two or three years of full time residency and has had intensive training to become an expert in orthodontics. Find an orthodontist by choosing a member of the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

The Class II Division 2 smile can be spotted by an orthodontist or maxillofacial oral surgeon from the nose bleed section of the audience. It requires a mandibular advancement surgery or upper tooth extraction for a beautiful and ideal result.

Here are some facts regarding mandibular advancement surgery in the year 2016:

• Can be completed in as little as 13 months
• Wiring shut is not required
• Cost usually covered by medical insurance
• Over night hospital stay usually not needed
• Done within the mouth
• No permanent bruising or scaring
• Increases the airway
• Lessens snoring
• Reduces sleep apnea

If you have questions regarding mandibular advancement jaw surgery, contact an oral surgeon, an expert in face, mouth and jaw surgery. You can find an oral surgeon at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons at www.aaoms.org.

If you have a Class II Division 2 bite like Jackie O, fix it correctly or do nothing at all.

Thanks for the smiles, Jackie O.

SOMETIMES FOR THE MOST gorgeous and healthy smile possible, orthodontic tooth extractions are necessary.

5 Situations When Tooth Extraction is Best

Here are a few situations when it would be best to extract teeth with your orthodontic treatment:

1. Teeth are severely crowded with 10mm and the bone and periodontal soft tissue cannot accommodate expansion.
2. There is a severe open bite which can be reduced and corrected by tooth extraction.
3. The lips are severely protrusive or open at rest.
4. The chin has strain at rest when the lips close, giving it a "golf ball" appearance.
5. There is a severe overjet with upper teeth extremely protrusive.

Extractions are less common in young patients who are still growing and are able to have arch expansion and growth modification.

Tooth Extraction Can Be A Simple Process

Tooth extraction is usually done by an oral surgeon. Depending on their training and experience, some general dentists may also extract permanent teeth.

The extraction of bicuspids and other teeth (not including wisdom teeth) is usually simple. It is usually done quickly. With anesthesia, there is usually no discomfort. Once home, be sure to eat soft food and avoid using a straw immediately following the procedure. There is no need to miss school following the procedure.

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we try to minimize tooth extraction as much as possible. To find out if tooth extraction is absolutely necessary for you, visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000. To find an orthodontist in your area, visit the America Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org. To find an oral surgeon in your area visit the American Association of Oral Surgeons at www.aaos.org.

Thank you for trusting us with your orthodontic care. Here's to your beautiful smile.

Top image by Flickr user Andres Rodriguez used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

IT’S SHOCKING. Blood on your floss. Red gums bleed while you brush your teeth. You're spooked by halitosis, or bad breath. Frightening plaque and calculus accumulate on your teeth like cement. These are the scary signs of periodontal disease. And malocclusion, or crooked teeth, make it worse.

Malocclusion Affects A Majority Of Adults

Malocclusion affects 74% of American adults. If you have severely crooked and crowded teeth, it may affect your periodontal health by making it difficult to remove plaque when teeth are not aligned.

Gingivitis Can Affect More Than Your Gums

If not treated, gum inflammation, gingivitis, will lead to soft tissue damage. Receding gums, and the formation of pockets between your teeth produces bone loss. Eventually, your teeth may even fall out!

Your teeth can be saved by periodontal treatment and orthodontics. Properly positioned teeth can help gums "fit" tightly around teeth and lead to peiodontal health.

This case was treated by board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Antioch, California. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org. To find a periodontist near you, visit American Academy of Periodontology at www.perio.org.

Don't let your mouth be haunted. Change malocclusion and periodontal disease to oral health.

YOUR DENTAL ARCH IS a catenary curve worth preserving. Once one tooth moves out of position with teeth contacts broken, your teeth will continue to crowd over the course of your lifetime. If left untreated, you will continue to lose your dental arch curve.

Crowding In Lower Front Teeth Is Common

Loss of dental arch form can be partially due to a natural biological process called “mesial drift”. Your teeth naturally move forward to close space where space is available. If not held in place by solid tooth contacts, your teeth will continue to crowd. This is especially true in the lower arch with your lower front teeth.

This Can Be Fixed With Orthodontic Treatment

Limited orthodontic treatment with only six anterior braces can straighten your lower teeth crowding. Your teeth can be moved back into position and held in place with a fixed retainer, a small wire on the inside of your lower front teeth.

This limited case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Antioch, California. It took 20 months to complete. If you have questions about your lower teeth crowding, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Get your dental arch back in shape with limited orthodontic treatment.

THE YEAR IS 1997. The place is Whitehall, Central London. At age 43, the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool of 1812 emerges from 10 Downing Street to make his first official appearance and announce his manifesto to an adoring crowd.

But There’s A Mystery To Be Solved...

Where is Tony Blair’s lower tooth?

Upon closer examination, an astute and logical orthodontist deduces that Tony Blair’s lower tooth is significantly crowded out of the dental arch. This tooth is pushed towards his tongue giving him the appearance of a missing tooth.

More significant, if left untreated, his lower teeth will continue to crowd giving him the appearance of the oldest Prime Minister in British History, Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, age 71.

It’s Simple To Fix...

Significant lower tooth crowding can be simple for you to fix with orthodontic treatment.

If there is excessive lower front tooth width (Bolton Discrepancy), one lower tooth may be removed to restore straightness and give you the appearance of a beautiful smile.

Make Room For A Beautiful Smile

No one up close or in a crowd will ever notice that one of your lower teeth has been removed. Only your orthodontist or dentist will know for sure.

Talk To Us About What Orthodontic Treatment Can Do For Your Smile

Let your teeth help you look your age or younger. Consider orthodontic treatment today and straighten your lower front teeth. Help your teeth look young, like the youngest British Prime Minister in History, William Pitt the Young, 1783, age 24.

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California. To schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com