Imagine trying to fit four cars into a two-car garage – not pretty, right? The same is true for our mouths. Sometimes, we can expand the dental arches within the boney housing that holds the teeth, but there are limits to this.
Given a modest amount of teeth-crowding, we can often provide a beautiful smile and healthy bite by reshaping and bringing some teeth forward. Moving teeth forward to provide space must be done with the facial profile and lip structure in mind.
For example, someone with thin lips and protruding teeth won’t look better if the teeth come further forward. They will also find it difficult to breathe through their nose. Careful consideration must be taken when bringing teeth forward. It must be done within the bones that hold the teeth or it may cause bone and gum loss.
Another option to create more space for crowded teeth is to push the back teeth even further back. But there are limitations to this method.
Even with these options, some people still simply require more space to properly align their teeth. For them, having teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes provides a better chance of perfecting their bite and smile. Extracting teeth to provide space for severely crowded teeth remains an ideal solution for certain individuals.