12/06/2026
"Doctor, should I extract teeth or not?"
This is one of the most common questions patients ask when discussing treatment for protrusive lips or a protrusive facial profile.
The answer is quite straightforward: if your goal is to significantly change your facial profile, tooth extraction may be necessary.
Your lips are supported by the position of your teeth. By extracting teeth and moving the front teeth (incisors) backward, we can change their position and angulation, which often allows the lips to retract and creates a flatter facial profile.
For this reason, extractions are commonly considered in patients with a protrusive profile. However, extraction is not suitable for everyone. In patients who already have a relatively flat profile, excessive retraction of the teeth may result in a sunken facial appearance, which can create an older-looking aesthetic.
This is why the decision to extract teeth should never be based solely on crowding or dental alignment. Careful evaluation of the patient's facial profile, lip support, and overall facial aesthetics is essential before making the decision.
Orthodontic treatment is not just about straightening teeth—it is also about creating facial harmony and achieving the best long-term aesthetic outcome.