The Trouble With Crooked Teeth
Although many people assume that the main problem with crooked teeth is their impact on your smile, misaligned teeth can also contribute to tooth decay and periodontal disease. When teeth tip or crowd, it is easier for plaque to accumulate on their surfaces, which can cause tartar buildup and gum disease. Crooked teeth can make it hard to pronounce words or maintain your confidence, impacting your ability to make friends or climb the corporate ladder. Bite problems can also impact your jaw alignment, which can cause muscle strain, headaches, or shoulder pain.
Types of Orthodontic Issues
Genetics, dental trauma, or thumb-sucking can lead to crooked teeth. During a typical orthodontic consultation, we will check your teeth for the following complications:
- Bite Issues – Bite issues might seem insignificant, especially if your teeth are generally straight. But, bite problems can cause people to bite their cheeks or damage their teeth. Overbites, sometimes called “buck teeth,” occur when the top jaw is too far ahead of the bottom jaw. Underbites are the opposite problem, where the lower jaw is too far ahead of the upper jaw. Crossbites can also be problematic since the upper teeth do not nest around the lower teeth when the mouth closes. An open bite, which occurs when the teeth do not close together when the mouth closes, can cause problems with effective chewing.
- Spaced Teeth – Teeth that are too far apart can give the smile a gap-toothed appearance and make it hard to prevent plaque accumulation from between the teeth.
- Teeth Crowding – Too many teeth for the space in your jaw can cause dental crowding. Or it can come from a single tooth coming in crooked and disrupting the placement of the surrounding teeth. Crowding can make it difficult to clean the teeth since some of the teeth can be behind others.
- Midline Problems – When you close your mouth, the line between your two front incisors should be the same on the top and bottom jaw. If this is not the case, you may have a misplaced midline, which can cause other orthodontic issues.
Orthodontic Treatments
To resolve these issues, professional orthodontists in Westchester use various tools and techniques. These include fixed appliances and removable appliances. Here are examples of each and what each procedure entails.
Fixed Treatments
- Braces – The most common orthodontic appliance, braces consist of brackets mounted onto the teeth with a wire that moves them into their desired positions. Each month, the orthodontist tightens the wire arch, helping the teeth to straighten. Small rubber bands hold the wires to the brackets, creating a fun appearance for traditional braces. Invisible or tooth-colored brackets are also available for adults.
- Fixed Space Maintainers – When kids lose teeth earlier than they should, spacers can ensure an even bite further down the road. Metal bands hold the spacers to the teeth and can be helpful in keeping the teeth straight as they emerge.
- Permanent Retainers – After receiving orthodontic care, your orthodontist can fix a permanent retainer to the back of your teeth. As time passes, it will keep your smile straight and healthy.
Removable Appliances
- Clear Aligners – These systems–like Invisalign and ClearCorrect–use a series of clear aligners for adults that can move the teeth into place. The aligners are almost invisible and completely removable. This allows people to keep their teeth clean and healthy during orthodontic treatment.
- Retainers – Patients should use removable retainers to prevent shifting after orthodontic care. With the use of retainers, orthodontic results can be permanent.
Schedule Your Orthodontic Consultation Today!
At Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale, we can help adults achieve the smile of their dreams while keeping important factors like lifestyle, careers, and budgets in mind. For more information about getting your teeth straightened, contact Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale today by calling (914) 725-7100.
