Is it necessary to remove healthy teeth to correct a malocclusion?
Carefully controlled removal of selected primary teeth may be necessary to guide the permanent teeth into proper position. This procedure requires frequent monitoring over a period of time and usually in combination with the use of some type of appliance. The removal of permanent teeth depends specifically upon the circumstances for that particular child. There are some malocclusions which cannot be treated successfully without removing permanent teeth and there are other situations where permanent teeth should definitely not be removed. This is a decision which must be made very carefully after thoroughly evaluating all of the diagnostic materials available for that patient. Q: What information does the pediatric dentist need to evaluate a developing malocclusion? The complexity of each child’s individual problem will dictate the extent of examination and diagnostic procedures. Following a thorough clinical examination with a review of past medical and dental history, impressions of t
