How to Fix Crooked Teeth
April 23, 2024
Fixing Crooked Teeth |
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What Are Crooked Teeth?
One reason for regular dental checkups is to prevent and correct crooked teeth. These bent or misaligned teeth may change the overall dental structure. They cause many people to have low self-esteem and may also negatively impact their oral health. Below are the causes of this problem and how to fix it.
The positioning of your teeth may also determine how they will affect your quality of life.
Crooked Bottom Teeth
Cleaning between the misaligned teeth might be challenging when the problem is on the lower jaw. Any overlapping may prevent the toothbrush from properly removing any hidden food particles. This may cause harmful bacteria to thrive, causing tooth decay. In other situations, one may also develop gum disease due to improper cleaning and pressure from a crowded or crooked smile.
One may also become self-conscious since the contorted teeth affect the jaw’s appearance, leading to low self-esteem. Additionally, one may not want to smile or talk publicly for fear of humiliation.
Crooked Front Teeth
In many patients, the misalignment may happen on the front teeth, which may affect one’s speech. Since the tongue and teeth work together to pronounce words correctly, one may struggle to articulate some words properly. Overlapping teeth are also at a risk of more wear and tear. Pressure increases as the teeth protrude, which may result in some of them cracking or chipping.
How to Fix Crooked Teeth
Contorted teeth are not a new phenomenon in dentistry; they affect children and adults. However, you can learn how to fix crooked teeth with the help of a seasoned orthodontist.
Braces on Crooked Teeth
Most physicians recommend braces to help straighten teeth, depending on the age and gum condition. However, if one has no limiting dental health problems, this is a cheaper alternative to surgery. You can choose between the regular metal braces or their invisible counterparts.
Traditional Metal Braces
When you ask most dentists how to fix crooked teeth, they mostly opt for metal braces. These comprise metal brackets and flexible wires that connect them. They come in various colors and are cheaper than their clear alternatives.
Clear Braces
If one does not want everyone to notice their braces, they can opt for clear braces, which are more discreet. They are more comfortable and perform the same task as the metallic braces.
Invisalign
Managing contorted teeth with Invisalign is a sure way to ensure the patient gets what they want without public attention. These aligners work as excellently as the metal brackets, and the patient will enjoy the following benefits:
- Less publicity
- Easily removable
- Easy to clean
- Individually customized
After extensive consultation with an orthodontist, one must get an optical scan of their lower and upper teeth. This allows the specialist to develop customized braces for their situation, giving faster and better outcomes. The installation process is not painful, but adjusting to the feeling of a strange object in the mouth may take some time.
How to Fix Crooked Teeth Without Braces
The alternatives for fixing crooked teeth should include clear aligners for those who do not want to wear braces. The other alternative is getting veneers, which is almost like an instant fix. This solution works for those who do not want to wait months or years to adjust the gum slowly. Nevertheless, it can only be suitable for people who need minor adjustments of one or two teeth.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Most contorted teeth issues begin when one is still a child. Have a look at some of the things that can lead to this development:
Genetics and heredity: Some families have a genetic teeth misalignment that affects almost all family members.
Childhood habits: Thumb sucking is the most common cause of misalignment since it pushes out the jaws. Tongue thrusting in young ones may also impact the developing jaw or push growing teeth in the wrong direction.
Jaw size discrepancy: Improper jaw size may cause the teeth to push against each other, causing misalignment.
Early tooth loss: If baby teeth fall off too early, the new set may not grow appropriately since the jaw may not be well-formed.
Facial trauma: Excessive trauma to one’s face may affect the jaws and gums, which may lead to the misalignment of permanent teeth.
Are Crooked Teeth Genetic?
Specialists state that the straightness of your teeth can partly rely on one’s family genes. If one comes from a family with a set of 32 teeth but has a small jaw, it may result in crooked teeth. Some people inherit hard and soft palate anomalies. In contrast, others have a family history of an extra tooth in one or both jaws.
Other contributing factors
In today’s world, it is not uncommon to see people go for teeth surgery to emulate a famous person. Social media makes people admire popular people with minor defects that they flaunt in public. This includes the shape and size of their teeth.
Crooked Teeth Before and After
Numerous patients go through the alignment treatment with excellent long-term results. As long as you adhere to the appointments and maintain oral hygiene, you can confidently smile like the patients showcased here.
Wearing a Retainer
After braces complete their work, orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer to help keep the teeth in place. The timeline required will depend on the patient’s discipline and gum development. One can choose a permanent or removable retainer.
If one chooses a removable retainer, one must follow the cleaning instructions and avoid staying for too long without wearing it. However, for permanent retainers, one must ensure proper oral hygiene to ensure no food gets stuck in the wires.
Can Crooked Teeth Cause TMJ?
Teeth misalignment can cause overbite due to misaligned jaw muscles and can lead to a TMJ disorder. The strain in the jaws may cause pain, making everyday activities like chewing and talking unbearable. That is why getting help from someone who knows how to fix crooked teeth is essential, especially when one is still young.
Neglecting crooked dentition may worsen the situation since improper chewing may excessively strain the jaws. Sometimes, it may result in the teeth grinding against each other, causing more wear and tear.
Schedule a Consultation
While people advocate embracing one’s flaws, getting dental assistance for crooked dentition is essential. Straightening your teeth boosts your confidence, and you will avoid numerous dental health problems. It is also crucial to take your children to an orthodontist once you notice an issue after losing baby teeth.
Schedule a consultation with our team today for more information on restoring your smile.
Orthodontic Arts, your number one Orthodontist in OKC. Our Certified Orthodontist provides the latest and greatest Orthodontic practices to our clients in the OKC and Midtown area. Orthodontic Arts is the best place for child and teen orthodontics as well as adult orthodontics. Be sure to ask about Invisalign and invisible braces! Contact us today at (405) 604-3745 or request an appointment.