EXTRACTION VERSUS NON-EXTRACTION: LONG-TERM RESEARCH FINDINGS ON ARCH WIDTH AND BUCCAL CORRIDORS

摘要

Arch length deficiency is one of the most common problems with which orthodontists have to deal while striving to achieve their treatment objectives. The extent of the space needed makes the clinician decide whether or not to extract teeth. Extracting teeth—mainly all four premolars—has been condemned for various reasons including its negative effects on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), facial and smiles esthetics and, more recently, its potential association with sleep disorders. The aim of this chapter is to present a brief perspective of the extraction versus non-extraction debate and further elaborate on the long-term changes in arch width and buccal corridor ratios following orthodontic treatment. Extraction and non-extraction treatment options should not substitute for each other. Orthodontic treatment outcome is primarily a result of the mechanotherapy and clinical management of the case. When the two treatment options were compared, there were certain treatment differences between them. However, it was difficult to conclude that orthodontic therapy with extractions resulted in the constriction of the maxillary dental arch and increased the buccal corridor spaces accordingly. Additionally, long-term comparisons of these variables showed that extraction and non-extraction patients did not differ significantly at the post-retention period.