Fixing Dental Crowding without Extractions
Dental crowding describes a condition where the jaw has insufficient room for the number of teeth present.
At Hohl Orthodontics, we correct dental crowding by expanding the jaws to promote long-term health.
Historically, the common method for correcting dental crowding is to remove permanent teeth. Choosing this approach can decrease the amount of time a patient is in braces. It’s much faster and more predictable to remove teeth, and spread out the teeth with that available space…. so what’s the problem?
Due to our evolved diets and behaviors, most humans have a deficient maxilla or narrow upper jaw. Our teeth set the foundation for a stable cranial system. When teeth are removed and the maxilla remains underdeveloped, it can adversely effect our whole body and lead to conditions such as:
frequent headaches or migraines
jaw, teeth, neck pain
sleep apnea or other breathing conditions
and more
Picture provided by Dr. Pitts
Correcting dental crowding can be achieved without removing healthy permanent teeth. Expansion of the jaws to allow for all teeth results in long-term health benefits by decreasing the risk for conditions caused by a deficient maxilla, while also improving aesthetic bone structure such as:
facial symmetry
higher cheekbones
brighter, more open eyes
straighter nose
more pronounced jawline