Unfortunately, some people naturally face the problem of overlapping, crooked or misaligned teeth. In some cases, the mouth of the affected individual is unnecessarily small for his/her teeth, which often leads to crowding of the teeth and teeth shifting. At times, an individual’s upper and lower jaws don’t maintain the sizes, which causes issues like overbite or under bite. Basically, an overbite occurs as a result of the upper jaw’s abnormal protrusion while an under bite results from the lower jaw’s forward protrusion.
Usually, crooked teeth in addition to overbites and under bites are considered hereditary traits. Other reasons behind tooth misalignment are early tooth loss, inefficient dental restorations, gum disease, excessive stress on the gums along with teeth; jaw misalignment following an injury; oral tumors or other childhood oral health problems like thumb sucking and prolonged use of pacifier.
Common Issues Associated With Tooth Misalignment
Tooth misalignment can lead to a number of different issues, which includes chewing problems and tooth decay. As the problem of tooth misalignment makes it even more difficult to clean the teeth, the affected individual is at a higher risk of experiencing cavities and oral health problems like gingivitis. In fact, misaligned teeth also cause the teeth, muscles and jaws to strain, thereby leading to tooth loss. Moreover, people with crooked or misaligned teeth generally feel diffident.
Although the person suffering can easily identify this problem, a proper dental examination is needed to determine the best possible strategy for fixing the problem. Typically, all dentists look for symptoms such as abnormal tooth alignment, abnormal facial experience and chewing or speech difficulties. In most cases, the patient is advised to consult an orthodontist who can offer a permanent solution for fixing problems like misaligned jaws ad crooked teeth.
Getting Help From the Orthodontist
When an orthodontist is consulted, he/she starts the process with taking dental X-rays, facial photographs as well as tooth impressions in order to come up with the best treatment plan. Dental X-rays offer information on teeth position as well as roots. Ordinary photographs of the face may be needed for evaluating the connection between the head and teeth. Eventually, teeth impressions may also be required, which is done by biting down on a special material that is required for creating the teeth’s exact copy.
Treatment of the Condition
Following the diagnosis, the orthodontist may come up with the most suitable treatment strategy for the misaligned bite or teeth. In some cases, removable retainers are recommended for fixing the problem. Tooth extraction may also be needed to fix overcrowding. For a majority of individuals, dental braces are necessary for fixing the issue. In other more severe cases, a surgical operation may be needed.