If you or your child has been told that braces might require removing teeth, it's natural to feel concerned. The honest answer is that neither extraction nor non-extraction treatment is universally right — the best choice depends on age, the severity of crowding, jaw structure, and airway health.
When extraction may be the right choice
There are situations where removing a tooth is the most responsible path — for example, severe crowding in a jaw that is too small to expand, or adult patients whose jaw growth is complete and expansion is no longer possible. When teeth are removed, closing that space takes careful planning.
How early evaluation can help avoid extractions
For children and adolescents, timing changes everything. Between roughly ages 7 and 10 the jaw is still developing, which can allow us to widen the palate to create space, guide erupting teeth into better positions, and support healthy airway development — often reducing the need for extractions later.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Early evaluation isn't about rushing treatment; it's about identifying who would benefit from early guidance while more options are still available.
Our approach
We don't rush to extract when expansion is possible, and we don't avoid extractions when they're genuinely the right answer. Either way, we explain our reasoning so you can make an informed decision.