Hi! My son is going to have braces. 4 teeth need to be pulled. Which one to be pulled is better, 4th or 5th?

Hi! My son is going to have braces. 4 teeth need to be pulled. Which one to be pulled is better, 4th or 5th? from the center front.

Hi! My son is going to have braces. 4 teeth need to be pulled. Which one to be pulled is better, 4th or 5th?
That's something that the orthodontist can decide better than anyone else. Ask him, and take his advice.
Reply:Honestly, it's best to go with whatever the orthodontist/dentist thinks is best. They're the ones that are qualified on the matter, rather than whoever may choose to post a reply to your question.





On the topic of having teeth pulled though, in the end you're still 4 teeth short of what you were originally. As long as they're not removing the canine teeth or any at the front(which they definitely wouldn't be), there shouldn't be any difference in the final appearance after the braces are off.
Reply:Either one is going to hurt. It will be easier on your son probably having the 4th one pulled cause it's just closer to the front so the dentist want have to be all up in his mouth. Asthetically your son might want the 5 th one done b/c it want show as much when he smiles that he has teeth missing.
Reply:Hello, i am a former victim of the orthodontist myself. My teeth were over crowded and i had my 4Th's removed. I am not completely sure why tho.
Reply:I had to have my 4ths removed also, something to do with space in the mouth.





But let the dentist or orthodontis make that choice he knows best. But if you have the choice the 4th are easier then the 5th on you son.
Reply:Let the orthie decide.


He/she will look at many aspects - what correction is needed. If there are fillings in any of these teeth, how long/curved are the roots, how many (upper 4s have two roots) etc.


If lets say your son's teeth are meeting perfectly at the back (the molar area) and correction is needed mainly at the front, by removing the 5th tooth you then have to move number 1, 2, 3 and 4towards the created gap. If you remove the 4th tooth instead, you only move the tooth number 1, 2 and 3.





It is a bit more complicated than this as usually with braces you get correction (even if tiny) on every single tooth because they work as a unit. I just wanted to give you an idea how the orthodontist have to think about closing the gaps by the remaining teeth.


Hope this helped a bit.