not ready to say goodbye to my premolars – too sad

[Joual]

I think I'm chickening out. I have a transpalatal arch (TPA) in and 4 molar bands on - not fully braced yet - but I'm getting more upset every day about the extractions I have coming up. I’m 29 years old so I should be able to handle this, but I don’t think I can.

4 orthos told me that I need 2 upper and 2 lower premolars/bicuspids extracted. I was fine when the 2nd & 3rd orthos told me I need the extractions, but after a while I started feeling upset again.

I have 2 appointments set up next week with 2 more orthos for consults just to get more confirmation that I need these out. I’m so worried about my extractions that I just need orthos to keep telling me “yes, you do need themâ€

[Lisa65]

I don't think you're being silly. We all react differently to different things. There's no shoulds and shouldn'ts about feelings. I guess however by going to 6 different orthos you are hoping that one of them will tell you that you don't need the extractions? However, if 4 have already told you that you DO need them, it seems unlikely.

If it's not the pain or bleeding after the surgery that worries you, what exactly is it? My "recommendation" such as it is, would be for you to think carefully what it is about having those teeth removed that is so upsetting for you, and spend some time thinking about that, and coming to terms with that idea before you proceed any further. From a practical point of view, having wisdom teeth extracted is a far more traumatic procedure than bicuspids, yet you say that wouldn't bother you. So is it the thought of having visible gaps? Or some other reason which you've not fully consciously thought through?

You could choose to drop the idea of braces and live with crooked teeth and an irregular bite, but the problem will still be there in 5 or 10 years time. You will be older and possibly your teeth will have misaligned even more making things even harder. And those bicuspids would still need to come out.

Don't "do" anything before you are ready, but do your research (knowledge is power) and spend some time trying to get to the bottom of this reluctance to have those teeth removed. Then you'll be able to make a more informed choice about what you really want to do.

Lisa x

[lionfish]

No-one likes to part with permanent teeth. My ortho tried to get me there without extractions, but at 5 months he said he could not close my bite without removing a lower wisdom tooth first. I was pretty sad about this, having lived with this tooth for 35 years (it was filled and everything, lots of sentimental value there!).

But I went ahead and had it pulled and I know this was the right thing for my treatment. The actual process of pulling the tooth was a non-event as well.

[Joual]

Thanks Lisa. I keep going for consults for reassurance that the premolars need to come out. I feel more comforted hearing it from a lot of different orthos.

I think what's so upsetting is that they're not hidden like wisdom teeth are. I keep telling myself that my incisors & canines will be pushed back and no one will notice or care that I had premolars extracted.

You're right about waiting. My teeth would probably have even more uneven wear & tear on them in a few years.

[joney]

Hi Joual

I know how you feel. I am due to have two out on October 5th and am still coming to terms with it. I have accepted that if I want straight teeth they will have to come out but it is a big decision. I spent a day or two after being told that they would definitely have to come out feeling sad about it. I really think it is the permanence of the decision, it is a point of no return. However I have to accept it if I want the straight teeth then they have to go.. I am 41 and I really wish I did this years ago. Don't do it if you don't want, I don't think anybody ever died from crooked teeth. I have decided to concentrate on the end goal and how great my teeth will look afterwards.

Good luck with your decision.
Regards
Joney

[simplywired]

I had a lower bicuspid removed before the braces - the one on the other side had been pulled years before and I had a bridge over that space that was cut for the braces. Honestly, you can't tell! I thought I would be self-conscious but people don't look THAT closely at you and would never know unless you said something. I've noticed that most adults are "jazzed" that you are doing something positive for your health - now I notice LOTS of adults with braces - seems almost as common as with kids.

If you "needed" those teeth, they wouldn't pull them. Hang in there - if you were to wait a have braces, trust me, you'll have other problems. I know too many people that have had to suffer through IMPLANTS and that to me is more major and expensive and traumatic than braces and certainly extractions for braces. This way YOU ARE in charge of SAVING your teeth.

[Joanna20]

Hi! Last week I too, was told I need 4 teeth out, and most of them are 100% healthy! It's sad, and sometimes I caught myself thinking about how it is a shame, but God has given me a tiny mouth and jaw... So can we do?
Try and relax, I know how hard this is 'cause I'm caunting the days myself... Has I'm on vacations I spend my days watching TV and having fun with my friends, as hard as it seems TRY to go out and do things u enjoy! Time does fly if u do that!
When are u sheduled to have them?
Chat soon,
Joanna

[Dreamer]

Having had four premolars extracted 16 months ago I can tell you that it was a blessing. It made room for my overbite to move back so nicely! Once the gaps close up you will not even notice that the premolars are missing and your mouth will feel just as full of teeth as before! It changed my profile for the best too, made my face look a little thinner under my cheekbones which was a lovely plus to the whole thing!
If you have an overbite that needs to be corrected and choose to not have the extractions there will not be as much room to correct it.

[Joual]

Joanna, my teeth are scheduled to be extracted on October 20.

Dreamer, I also have an overbite that needs to move back.

Thanks everyone for your understanding and encouragement.

[noppi]

It's annoying to have to get teeth pulled out when essentially there is nothing wrong with them and they are healthy. And plus maybe you're worried that removing them is so "final" like there is no turning back. And yeah I guess that's kind of true. Maybe you would feel more reassured if you had a greater understanding of why they need to be pulled out. I asked my ortho if I really really need to get them out. He said yes. I had overjet so my teeth were kind of bucky and stuff. He needed more room in my mouth to push my teeth back. My extraction gaps are almost closed and I feel like I look better. Yeah extractions may change the way you look, but like others, it was for the better. My profile is more attractive, my cheeks are cuter and yeah my face looks thinner. I think my smile looks better too of course!

[RainyDay2]

I know exactly how you feel. 3 orthos had told me I would need extractions or surgergy. I went home crying after I heard it from the last ortho. I think for me it was the stress behind thinking that I'm a fool for extracting perfectly good teeth. Then after a little crying I decided that I wanted a prettier smile more than anything so I decided not to think about it anymore and just accept it. Concentrate on the end result. Remember that the gaps will close. Hang in there. Many people have done this and they've been perfectly fine. I had mine extracted a month ago and I can't wait for the gaps to close! Just go ahead and do it. If you wait a few years you'll wish you had done it now.

[trigger]

Toughen up. It builds character. lol

[Dreamer]

It's a really personal decision to weigh out. Basically it comes down to this: Which will bother you more? The overbite/overjet or the teeth gone? Once your gaps close you will not be able to tell they were ever even there and all your teeth will just fit into your mouth nicer. Some smaller mouths just can't handle a full load of teeth. I was in tears intiially too but it ended up being the very best choice for me.

[florencegal]

Hi joual, you've voiced the worry that's been rattling round in my head constantly for the last couple of weeks - thank you! I'm waiting to hear from my dentist about scheduling the appointment for 4 premolar extractions and the waiting is driving me crazy! All kinds of doubts are creeping in - it just seems so final doesn't it? I spend hours at a time running my tongue over my teeth and looking at them in the mirror, thinking "ok, so if this tooth has to move 1mm this way, and this one about 2mm that way, that means this tooth shifts over like that...." and on and on like that until I realise that sure, there is no way in this world I can sort out all the crookedness without sacrificing some lovely healthy teeth to make room. I do think I should perhaps have had more consultations to see if there was an ortho who could sort out my bite without extractions but it's hard to see how on god's earth there would ever be room in there!

I'm also really worried about how it will affect the general look of my face - I've got an overjet which I'll be glad to see go but does this mean I'll lose my pouty top lip too??? (a girl can get used to having one of those ) I just want to still be able to recognise myself after all this is over!

Joual, please don't beat yourself up about feeling emotional over all of this - I think it's a completely normal reaction to facing the loss of parts of yourself. I hope that if you do go ahead with this process then you can come to terms with the loss and see the huge benefits instead. Be kind to yourself and take the time you need to get your head round everything. If you need to discuss your worries more, I completely understand where you're coming from about this and lots of others here have been thru the same doubts too, we can help each other thru

Big hugs

x

[vincent]

i really know what you mean, i mean you have these teeth fo rlike years and they are perfectly healthy, and now you need to remove them of course there is some attatchment to them, i was so liek you and kind of regret it, but sesame happens good luck.