SERIAL EXTRACTION

INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
RATIONALE
INDICATIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
DIAGNOSITC PROCEDURE
PROBLEMS IN SERIAL EXTRACTION
INTRODUCTION:

 Serial Extraction is an interceptive orthodontic

procedure usually initiated in the early mixed
dentition.

 It is a procedure that includes the planned

extraction of certain deciduous teeth & later specific
permenent teeth in an orderly sequence & pre-
determined pattern to guide the erupting permenent
teeth into a more favourable position.
 HISTORY:-
 Kjellgren (1929) used the term “Serial extraction” to
describe a procedure where some deciduous teeth
followed by permenent teeth were extracted to guide
the rest of the teeth into normal occlusion.
 Nance during 1940’s popularized this technique in
united states of AMERICA, termed it “planned &
progressive extraction” & has been called the ‘father’
of Serial extraction philosophy in united states.
 Hotz in 1970 called such a procedure “active
supervision” of teeth by extraction.
 RATIONALE:-
 Serial extraction is based on 2 basic principles:-
Arch Length tooth material discrepancy:
Whenever there is an excess of tooth material as compared
to the arch length a selective extraction of some teeth is
done so that rest of the teeth can be guided to normal
occlusion.
Physiologic tooth movement
 Human dentition shows a physiologic tendency to move
towards an extraction space.
 Thusby selective removal of some teeth the rest of the teeth
which are in the process of eruption are guided by the
natural forces into the extraction spaces.
 INDICATIONS FOR SERIAL EXTRACTION
1. Class I malocclusion showing harmony between skeletal
& muscular system.
2. Arch length deficiency as compared to the tooth material
is the most imp. indication for serial extraction.
Arch length deficiency is indicated by the presence of
1 or more of the following features:-
 Absence of physiologic spacing
 Unilateral or bilateral premature loss of deciduous
canines with midline shift.
 Malpositioned or impacted lateral incisors.
 Irregular or crowded upper & lower incisors.
 Localized gingival recession in the lower ant region
 Ectopic eruption of teeth.
 Mesial migration of buccal segment.
 Abnormal eruption pattern & sequence.
 Lower anterior flaring.
 Ankylosis of 1 or more teeth.
3. Where growth is not enough to overcome
the discrepancy between tooth material &
basal bone.
4. Patients with straight profile & pleasing
appearance.
 Contraindications of Serial Extraction
 Class II & III malocclusion with skeletal abnormalities.
 Space dentition.
 Anodontia/ oligodontia.
 Open bite & deep bite.
 Midline diastema.
 Class I malocclusion with minimal space deficiency.
 Unerupted malformed teeth. Eg. Dilacerations.
 Extensive caries or heavily filled I permenent molars.
 Mild disproportion between arch length & tooth material.
 Advantages of Serial Extraction:
 Treatment is more physiologic as it involves guidance of
teeth into normal positions.
 Psychological trauma associated with malocclusion can be
avoided by treatment of the malocclusion at an early stage.
 It eliminates the duration of multi-banded fixed treatment.
 Better oral hygiene is possible thereby reducing the risk of
caries.
 Health of investing tissue is preserved.
 Lesser retention period is indicated at the completion of
treatment.
 More stable results are achieved as the tooth material &
arch length are in harmony.
 Disadvantages of Serial Extraction:

 It can not be universally applied to all patients.

 Treatment time is prolonged as the treatment is
carried out in stages spread over 2-3 years.
 It requires the patient to visit the dentist thus
patient co-operation is needed.
 As the extraction spaces are created that close
gradually the patient has a tendency of
developing tongue thrust.
 Extraction of buccal teeth can result in
deepening of the bite.
 If the procedure are not carried out properly
there is a risk of arch length reducing by
mesial migration of the buccal segment.
 Ditching or space can exist b/w the canine &
2nd premolar.
 The axial inclination of teeth at the
termination of the serial extraction procedure
may require correction.
 Procedure

There are mainly three methods:-

• Dewel’s Method
• Tweed’s Method
• Nance method.
 DEWEL’S METHOD
 Dewel has proposed a 3 step serial extraction
procedure.
 In the 1st Step, the deciduous canines are extracted
to create a space for alignment of the incisors.
 This step is carried out at 8-9 years of age.
 After 1 years, the deciduous 1st molars are
extracted so that the eruption of 1st premolars is
accelerated.
 This is followed by the extraction of the erupting
1st premolar to permit the permanent canines to
erupt in their place.
 In some cases, a Modified Dewel’s
Technique is followed where in the 1st
premolar are enucleated at the time of
extraction of the 1st deciduous molars.
 This is frequently necessary in the
mandibular arch where the canines often
erupt before the 1st PM
 TWEED’S METHOD:
 This method involves the extraction of the deciduous
1st molars around 8 years of age.
 This is followed by the extraction of the 1st premolar
& the deciduous canines.
Nance Method:
This is similar to the Tweed’s technique &
involves the extraction of the deciduous 1st
molars followed by the extraction of the 1st
Premolars & the deciduous canines.
 Problems in the serial extraction
ANTERIOR CROSSBITES

Ant. crossbites can broadly classified as:-

• Dento- alveolar ant. crossbites.
• Skeletal ant. crossbites
• Functional ant. crossbites.
 Dento alvealor ant. Crossbites:
 Ant. crossbite in which 1 or more maxillary teeth are in
lingual relation to the mandibular ant. is termed as
“Dentoalveolar ant. Crossbites”.
 This is manifested as single tooth crossbite & usually
occurs due to over retained deciduous teeth.

Functional ant. Crossbites:

 Also called “Pseudo Class III Malocclusion”.
 Occurs as a result of occlusal prematurities.
Skeletal ant. crossbite
 These are usually a result of skeletal discrepencies
in growth of maxilla or the mandible.
 Ant. cross bite can be a result of maxillary
retrognathism or hypoplasia or mandibular
prognthism.
 These are treated by use of myofunctional or
orthopadic appliances.
 References :
Textbook of orthodontics : S.I.
BHALAJHI
Textbook of orthodontics : GRABER