Actually (around Kansas City anyway) it is much harder to find an
orthodontist who frequently or always extracts teeth versus a caring
individual who carefully evaluates each case on its own merits.

I can't say what the situation is in your "neighborhood".

SWF DDS

This sounds good until you look at the law.  

Individual dentists have no authority to impose any practice standards
on other practitioners.  We also have no enforcement authority over
another dentist that we may feel is violating any such standard.

If I say, "Dr. Joe Blow" is a lousy, dangerous dentist", he can actually
sue me!  

I can report another dentist to the State Board, but proving violations
of the state practice act are often quite different from actual
malpractice or just plain bad dentistry.

One dentist may do excellent work, but have an assistant sometimes scale
tartar.  He is in trouble with the state board.  Another dentist may
just drill into the nerves of teeth and cram in a filling with
disasterous consequences and be abiding by the legal interpretations of
the state practice act.

Same goes for malpractice.  An excellent dentist can have a "normal"
complication that is turned into a successful malpracice suit by not
having good records or informed consent.

Another guy can be very poor in treatment and slip away by having
complete records (true or not) and a record of informed consent.

Surely you've heard of "blind justice" <G>

SWF DDS

<< Actually (around Kansas City anyway) it is much harder to find an
orthodontist who frequently or always extracts teeth versus a caring
individual who carefully evaluates each case on its own merits.

I can't say what the situation is in your "neighborhood".

SWF DDS>>

So you would say each individual's
orthodontic needs should be evaluate
on its own merits by a competent
orthodontist.  Also in general, less
extractions are being done routinely
for orthodontics now, than lets say
a decade ago.  If the parent is
concerned about an extraction case
for orthodontics (s)he may want to
get a second opinion.  But prior to
making the choice (s)he should be
aware of both risks and benefits of  
both extraction vs non-extraction
choices and sign off on her option.  
Your also saying that there may be
cases were a non-extraction case
may result in spinning wheels with
little or no result.  Or worst yet
overextended time of wearing bands
or brackets leading to with hypoplastic
enamel or caries.

so whats new,

Stan