Q.
Hello – my daughter is 14 years old. After two years of regular orthodontic assessments while she has waited to lose all of her milk teeth she has recently started treatment, and has had her bottom braces fitted. She has spacing between her teeth, but the orthodontist has told us that she needs to have the two number 4 teeth removed from her top gum before he can fit the top brace. I don’t understand this – surely the teeth can be pulled back into the existing spaces, so why create further space by removing two teeth? Also, our dentist, who has been asked by the orthodontist to remove the teeth, has said he cannot understand why he is removing teeth when there is spacing rather than crowding, and will not do this without a second opinion, which we are currently seeking. What is your view? Thank you.