The situation
What was the problem?
The lower teeth were crowded: they overlapped and were rotated. This shows in the smile, and overlapping teeth are harder to keep clean, so they decay more easily.
Case · Orthodontics
Straightening crowded teeth without extractions
The lower teeth were tightly packed and overlapping. We straightened them with an orthodontic appliance. The photos show the teeth before and after treatment.
Drag left for before, right for after.
The solution
How did we solve it?
The orthodontic appliance gradually made room for the teeth, so not a single healthy tooth had to be taken out. At the end we bonded a thin wire to the inside of the teeth (a fixed retainer), which keeps them in place.
The most common fears
What most people ask before treatment
Did it hurt?
Fitting the appliance did not hurt. After each adjustment there was mild pressure for a few days, which passed quickly.
Were teeth extracted?
No. We resolved the crowding by aligning the arch, without extractions.
How long did it take?
For crowding like this, treatment usually takes 12 to 18 months, roughly a year to a year and a half. Most patients find it faster than they feared.
The result
An aligned, easy-to-clean arch
The teeth stand straight, the smile looks even, and the teeth are now much easier to keep clean. The retainer wire keeps them in place for the long term.
Common questions
Can crowding really be fixed without extractions?
In many cases, yes. Whether an extraction is needed in a given case can be determined precisely after the examination and planning.
How much healthier is an aligned arch?
Teeth that aren't crowded are easier to clean, so there is a lower risk of decay and gum inflammation, and they can be kept for longer.
Next step
Book your first consultation
If you have a similar problem with your teeth, we examine you at the consultation and tell you which treatment could work. The consultation commits you to nothing.