Serial extraction: 20 years of follow-up

• Published in: Journal of applied oral science 2012-08, Vol.20 (4), p.486-492
• Main Authors: Almeida, Renato Rodrigues de, Almeida, Marcio Rodrigues de, Oltramari-Navarro, Paula Vanessa Pedron, Conti, Ana Cláudia de Castro Ferreira, Navarro, Ricardo de Lima, Souza, Karen Regina Siqueira de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Case Report; Child; Clinical Protocols; Crowding; Dentistry; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Dentition, Mixed; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interceptive orthodontics; Malocclusion - therapy; Orthodontics, Corrective - methods; Orthodontics, Corrective - psychology; Radiography, Dental; Serial extraction; Serial Extraction - methods; Stability; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1678-7757; 1678-7765; 1678-7765; 1678-7757
• DOI: 10.1590/S1678-77572012000400016

This paper reports a case treated by a serial extraction program at the mixed dentition stage followed by a corrective orthodontic treatment, with a long-term follow-up period. Twenty years after the interceptive treatment, a harmonious face was observed along with treatment stability in the anterior posterior direction, deep overbite (which has been mentioned as a disadvantage of the serial extraction program), and a small relapse of anterior tooth crowding. All these conditions have been regarded as normal occurrences for most orthodontic treatments with a long-term follow-up period. This case report demonstrated that the establishment of a serial extraction protocol determined relevant esthetic changes that afforded an improvement of the patient's self-esteem, with a positive social impact. Furthermore, the low cost of this protocol permits the use of this therapy with underprivileged populations. It is important to emphasize that an early correction of tooth crowding by this protocol does not guarantee stability, but small relapses do not invalidate its accomplishment.