Crooked teeth are a common problem in many children and adults. Besides aesthetics, crooked teeth can pose serious oral health problems down the line. Accelerated tooth decay, problems with speaking and chewing, and TMJ are all risks of not straightening teeth misalignment. Many people wonder how to fix their crooked teeth, and luckily, it’s never too late to align your smile.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth are often the result of genetics. Sometimes the mouth is too small for the teeth to grow in evenly. In other cases, baby teeth can fall out prematurely, and permanent teeth do not have enough room to grow properly yet.
It’s now believed that early-age myofunctional habits share some of the blame, too. These are repetitive actions children perform without thinking about it, such as tongue thrusting against the back of the teeth or breathing exclusively through the mouth. Excessive thumb sucking and pacifier or bottle use are also direct causes.
There are also times when crooked teeth are due in some part to poor dental care or nutrition. Gum disease, cavities, and decay can contribute to crooked teeth. Trauma to the mouth, such as in sports, can knock a tooth crooked as well. This can also cause nearby teeth to shift out of alignment.
What Causes Crooked Teeth Can Lead to More Problems
Your smile isn’t the only thing affected by crooked teeth. People with misaligned teeth can develop trouble chewing correctly, and food is more easily lodged between the crevices of teeth. This makes cleaning teeth thoroughly more difficult and accelerates tooth decay and gum disease.
Misaligned bites coupled with crooked teeth increase the chance of breaking a tooth which can lead to infection or extraction. Expensive dental procedures such as root canals and dental implants may be the result of a broken or cracked tooth.
The strain exacerbated on the jaw can trigger headaches and joint disorders, including TMJ.
TMJ may cause painful popping where the jaw meets the cheekbone, and in severe cases, may have to be corrected surgically. Crooked teeth can even cause speech impediments such as lisps.
How to Fix Crooked Teeth
What causes crooked teeth may be out of your control or an unintentional consequence of early-age habits, but crooked teeth can be aligned. At Dental Spot, we offer traditional metal braces or clear aligners to correct crooked teeth.
Traditional Metal Braces
For severe underbites, overbites, and overcrowding of teeth, metal braces offer a relatively affordable solution to fixing alignment in the jaw. Depending on the severity of the case, metal braces are typically worn from 18-24 months.
Metal braces work by pulling the teeth gently into position. Your dentist sees you every six weeks and adjusts the wires to shift your teeth into alignment.
Some patients find the metal brackets challenging to clean. They are also more noticeable than clear aligners.
For adults and teens who do not want the hassle of metal wires and brackets, clear aligners are a popular option. Invisalign aligners can correct mild malocclusions, gapping, and misalignment of the jaw. Those with severely misaligned teeth may be ineligible for Invisalign.
Invisalign aligners are custom aligner trays designed specifically for your mouth using 3D scanning technology from our on-site dental lab. Using this same scanning technology, you can see what your final results will look like at the end of your Invisalign treatment.
These trays are switched out every two weeks and are worn for 20-22 hours per day. The clear aligners are removed only for brushing and eating and are virtually invisible for a discrete way to straighten your smile.
The Invisalign treatment is more expensive than traditional braces, but it generally takes less time to complete. Most Invisalign treatments are completed in 12-18 months.
Your Dental Spot dentist will first assess your teeth and decide which alignment method will work best for your smile. We take into account your lifestyle, needs, and time requirements. Our goal is to get you the best results in the least amount of time.
We offer several different payment options that are flexible, combined with promotions to help offset your alignment costs. We accept credit cards, EFTPOS, HICAPS, and direct transfers. We also accept vouchers and dental insurances such as CBDS, Medicare, and NSW Health Vouchers.
While you may have wondered “What causes my crooked teeth?” there are solutions to aligning your smile.
Straighter teeth can boost your self-confidence and motivate you to take care of your oral and overall health. Straighter teeth are easier to clean, and with an improved bite, you may experience fewer headaches and other discomforts related to the mouth and jaw.
Schedule a consultation with Dental Spot on (02) 9158 6115, and let us help you straighten your smile and boost your confidence today.