Should We Extract My Daughter’s Erupted Canines?
Q.
My 14 year old daughter’s two upper canines have erupted to full size in front and above the lateral incisors. All other teeth, on both sides of the upper arch, (central incisors through to premolars and molars) are well aligned with no gaps. Is it best to extract the canines, or extract the premolars and pull the canines into the spaces? The canines are bigger than the premolars, so would be a tight fit, and they would have to travel a long distance presenting a risk that good alignment would not be achieved. Extracting the canines would seem the simplest option with all other teeth being OK. But is it OK to lose these important teeth?
My 14 year old daughter’s two upper canines have erupted to full size in front and above the lateral incisors. All other teeth, on both sides of the upper arch, (central incisors through to premolars and molars) are well aligned with no gaps. Is it best to extract the canines, or extract the premolars and pull the canines into the spaces? The canines are bigger than the premolars, so would be a tight fit, and they would have to travel a long distance presenting a risk that good alignment would not be achieved. Extracting the canines would seem the simplest option with all other teeth being OK. But is it OK to lose these important teeth?
A.
I can’t really say without seeing her but its always advisable to keep the canines.
I can’t really say without seeing her but its always advisable to keep the canines.
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