Asymmetric extractions used in the treatment of patients with asymmetries

Patients with dentoalveolar asymmetries can present some of the most biomechanically challenging situations to the orthodontist. One creative approach for managing dental asymmetries is to extract a combination of teeth that will simplify intra-arch and interarch mechanics. Often this will also reduce the dependency on patient compliance for elastic wear and may even shorten treatment time. Atypical extraction patterns can also be beneficial in the presurgical orthodontic preparation of orthognathic surgery patients. Multiple diagnostic scenarios are discussed, and various treatment plans involving asymmetric extraction patterns are reviewed.