Tooth misalignments are not only a cosmetic issue but can also affect your oral health. It's imperative to explore the factors causing crooked teeth and the orthodontic treatment options available to straighten them.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Several reasons may cause your teeth to be crooked. Your teeth may erupt crooked due to genetic or biological factors. Losing baby teeth could force the permanent teeth to emerge slanted. Habits in childhood such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting can push the teeth out of place. Crowded baby teeth do not always mean permanent teeth will be crowded. But it increases the chances the emerging teeth will be out of position.
Another factor is trauma or cavities on baby teeth, which may force the teeth to fall off prematurely. The resulting gaps may affect the emergence of permanent teeth.
What are the Implications of Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth may impact your self-esteem and social wellbeing. But it is more than just an aesthetic issue. Misaligned teeth could have the implications such as difficulty chewing food, problems with articulating words, and deterioration of the enamel. It brings a higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
What are the Treatment Options for Crooked Teeth?
Our orthodontist will discuss several options for treating misaligned teeth. An orthodontist may affix metal braces onto the tooth. A wire is passed through the brackets to push the teeth gradually into position. Ceramic braces work in the same way as metal braces. The main difference is that ceramic has a color that matches the tooth. Ceramic braces are less conspicuous than metal braces, but the ceramic is more susceptible to breaking and staining.
Lingual braces are similar to metal and ceramic braces but are fitted at the back of the teeth, making them invisible. Invisalign clear braces are virtually inconspicuous. However, Invisalign is not the best option for cases of severe misalignment.
If your teeth are crooked, early treatment by our specialist can prevent complications. Contact our dentist to book an appointment today.
Tooth misalignments are not only a cosmetic issue but can also affect your oral health. It's imperative to explore the factors causing crooked teeth and the orthodontic treatment options available to straighten them.