Why can't my canine teeth be removed?

I have crooked teeth. My canine teeth sit high on my gums, they sort of look like vampire teeth...only not as cool. I've been to a couple of dentists who say I can't have them removed and I have to get braces to fix them. None of them have been able to tell me why, just that they are important.





Are canine teeth essential for living? My grandpa doesn't have any teeth and he's doing just fine.





Are there any dentists or oral surgeons out there who know?





Thanks.

Why can't my canine teeth be removed?
Well the problem is if they remove two teeth from your upper jaw your other teeth will move around and your bite might change and cause joint problems in your jaws. Also, the canine teeth are important for guidance of your bite, so if they were to become aligned with braces it would give you a good occlusion where all your teeth come together nicely and your canines guide your teeth when they move side to side. Also, if you removed your canines, your smile might look a little odd. So no, canines are not essential for living but im sure your dentists are trying to make your smile as esthetically pleasing as possible while at the same time giving you the best bite so that you dont damage your jaws.
Reply:The reason you cant get them removed is because it could and probally will do quite a bit of damage to your gums and/or mouth
Reply:It is very important to keep teeth in your mouth for as long as possible. Without teeth there, the bone around that area starts to deteriorate, unless you replace it with another tooth... either by orthodontic means, or with an implant/crown. The canine is one of the largest teeth, with the largest root, so to pull it out would affect a huge part of you jaw bone.


Your Grandpa's not doing "just fine"... he has no teeth. If that is what you are striving for, then sure... pulling them out seems pretty simple.
Reply:You need canines to be able to rip meat.


My advice : Get braces.





my canines used to sit really high on my gums and they looked like vampire teeth, just like yours.


I got braces, wore my rubber bands, problem solved.


Just get it over with.
Reply:They have to try to keep your mouth symmetrical, same number of teeth on each side or else your bite and the way you chew will get messed up. Get braces, sounds like you need them.
Reply:Why would you want to comprimise your quality of life by removing teeth that you don't need to remove? That is like saying remove a breast that doesn't have cancer - just ignorant.


If you have had several opinions and they all have advised orthodontics as your option, they are probably all right, then, wouldn't you think? I work for a dentist and have worked for dentists for the last 4 years and I have never heard of anyone wanting to remove teeth "just because".
Reply:so instead of getting braces or leaving your teeth the way they are, you'd rather have huge gaps in your teeth?





if you are young and the teeth are healthy no dentist in their right mind would extract any of your teeth.
Reply:Are you joking???





You want your canines because they are specialized to help you rip apart food when you chew! You only have to of these, so why would you want to take them out?



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