Shifting Teeth Ask The Dentist Questions about unusual tooth movement and implications for extractions or treatment

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FAQ: Tooth Movement - Shifting Teeth

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Video: Alternative (adult) treatment for retainer-related shifting teeth
Dynamics of Shift - Movement

Question:
Pushing of teeth toward center: I had a lot of back teeth on both sides of the bottom taken out several years ago. My teeth used to be straight.

Now they are going inward and pushing out one of my front bottom teeth. Would getting a partial on the bottom help them from pushing the tooth any farther? ... Visitor West Virginia

Answer:
A full set of dentition (teeth) on both the top and bottom function as a unit and this will keep the teeth in the place so they function best.

When you lose teeth you lose the funtional unit and the teeth will tend to move due to alternate forces being applied. The opposing teeth will extrude and the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth will move to try and fill in that space.

The crowding is from the teeth haveing new side forces being placed on them as opposed to the up and down force which was being applied.

A partial denture will help to hold the teeth in the place that they are in now and should stop the movement of the teeth if the partial is made correctly.

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