Any orthodontists among us?

Just asked DH who suggested you ask the ortho if he can expand the arch which might work if only slight correction is needed. (see what I did there?)

Just like to add..........its amazing how many quite crowded children's teeth sort themselves out as they grow. At one point my brother looked as if he would also need some work but he sort of grew into his teeth.
Its quite a chore, having teeth out, wearing a brace that has to be maintained (they are aweful for assisting decay) and I can still remember the pain of having them tightened (to increase the movement) bit like torture realy.

Where's Jane when you need her?

Bags, different orthodontists have different opinions so if you are not sure I'd get a second opinion. Removing healthy teeth from the back to make more room is a standard practice thats been around for years but some modern treatments have a different approach.
Opinions differ as to how much teeth move and, more importantly, whether they stay 'moved'. It varies from child to child also, room may increase as they develop.
It used to be the pre-molars that were removed....the ones after the canines, but some will take the molars with the idea that when the 'wisdoms' arrive they will have a bit more room also.
Just to say am not an expert its just that both I, my sister and then our children needed quite a lot of orthodontic work.

Misread this ...thought it said ornithologist!!! was going to show off my knowledge of magpie, robin and thrush!

I would definitely get a second opinion. I have been through orthodontistry with two children fairly recently - 2 different orthodontists - and they both told me that the view is very much against taking out healthy teeth nowadays. Both my two had quite severe overcrowding.

Of course there may be medical reasons in this instance. But like you (and having had teeth out to sort overcrowding myself) I would be suspicious that this may simply be a lazier, less complicated method of treatment.

I too had back teeth removed because of overcrowding, I think it used to be quite a common solution.
Overcrowding can cause it's own problems I suppose, but you could always get a second opinion

Eldest son, now 31, had his incisors removed by orthodontic dentist 20 years ago. This was part of a very long course of treatment. There have never been any issues and he has beautiful teeth. The orthodontist told us that incisors were the next teeth to be lost over time, after wisdom teeth. This was because we no longer need to rip our meat up with our teeth. They have grown smaller over thousands of years. I'm sure all will be fine. Xx

I had the four very back teeth removed when I was about 12, to allow more room for the other teeth to spread out. DD also had those teeth removed, and wore a brace to straighten her front teeth for a couple of years (thumb-sucking too!).

I don't think a dentist would remove healthy canines, and their twistiness could be corrected by a brace.