Early extractions of premolars reduce age-related crowding of lower incisors: 50 years of follow-up

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of extraction of four premolars, without subsequent orthodontic treatment, on the crowding of lower incisors in subjects between early adolescence and late adulthood, as compared to untreated subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 subjects were included in this study. The extraction group comprised 24 subjects who had all the first premolars removed at a mean age of 11.5 years, to relieve crowding in a class I malocclusion without subsequent orthodontic treatment. The control group had 21 untreated subjects, having a normal occlusion at a mean age of 13.0 years. The participants were documented with dental casts and cephalograms at mean ages of 11.4 and 13.0 years, for the two groups respectively (T1), and at mean ages of 30.9 years (T2) and 61.7 years (T3). Changes in lower incisor crowding were described as changes in “irregularity” and “space deficiency.” RESULTS: The extraction group showed no changes in the irregularity of the lower incisors and significant improvement of the space deficiency of the lower teeth into late adulthood. While in the control group, both irregularity of the lower incisors and space deficiency of the lower teeth increased significantly into late adulthood. CONCLUSION: Lower incisor alignment remains mainly unchanged into late adulthood in subjects who have all their first premolars removed in childhood, as the only treatment to relieve teeth crowding. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Severe crowding in a class I occlusion can be solved solely with premolar extraction, allowing for spontaneous adjustments with more stable incisor alignment up to late adulthood.