Correct Buck Teeth Without Extraction? Damon Braces?

You definitely do NOT have to have four teeth extracted to have Damon braces.  What you DO have to do is DECIDE what  you want your facial appearance and profile to look like in terms of lip fullness and ability to close your lips without strain.  If you decide that you want to accept a fuller lip profile with the teeth more forward there is less need for extraction.  As your orthodontist I have to know what you want your profile to look like and help you understand the effect that various treatment methods will have on your profile so that YOU can guide me on how you want your face to look.  I have a whole PowerPoint program to show our patients cases we have treated both with and without extractions so they can  see the effect that extractions will have.  Extractions are not good or bad except in relation to what effect they will have on your particular problem especially in regard to  your facial profile and lip fullness.  Try to find an ADA recognized orthodontic specialist who will take the time to show you the difference between the treatment methods and then YOU choose which way you want to go with full knowledge of what to expect with or without extraction. 

The simple answer is yes.  You can correct buck teeth without extraction with the Damon braces.  In fact, Damon braces should be indicated if you are trying to develop the arch laterally or widening the upper arch because of the light forces that are in the wires of the Damon System.  The pressure of the lips and the musculature of the lips against the buck teeth naturally drive the teeth back into their proper position.  However, without the Damon System, there is no room for the teeth to move in the back.  The teeth remain angulated and appear to be “buck”.  Lateral development with the Damon System allows these teeth to be retracted with minimal force due to the light or nearly zero amount of friction that is in the system. 
However, there are times when teeth need to be extracted.  This could be due to ethnicity, the angulation of the upper and lower jaw bones, the competence of the lips.  For example, the Asian population tends to be what we call bi maxillary protrusive.  Meaning, that even without crowding of the teeth, extractions of upper and lower premolars are indicated in order to achieve aesthetic profile.  Moreover, when the upper and lower jaws are angulated or what we call a high angle, it is very difficult to be able to close the bite anteriorly and this leaves to what we call an open bite.  Sometimes in this situation, it is necessary to remove bicuspids too to help correct the buck teeth.  And lastly, if the patient is not able to close the lips, we call this lip incompetence.  This too is sometimes an indication to remove the teeth to be able to correct the buck teeth.  However, it is our preference any way possible to be able to correct buck teeth without taking any teeth out which is what the Damon System is known for.