Premolar extraction is a common, yet contested, orthodontic practice aimed at creating space within the dental arches to allow realignment.

Based on condylographic parameters, Londoño and colleagues neatly showed that premolar extraction affects the kinematics of the lower jaw, increasing asymmetry of supposedly parallel movements, such as opening-closing, protrusion-retrusion and speech.

Consequently, it is clear that alternative methods to premolar removal for orthodontic treatment should be preferred. Read the full article here: article

Illustration representing the protrusion/retrusion movement showing (a) normal movement and (b) mandibular lateral deviation on the Y-axis (ΔYMLT) and (c) maximum mandibular lateral translation measurement on the axiographic tracing on the right side (ΔYR). (Londoño et al, 2022, Figure 2)