What are crooked teeth and crowding?
Crooked teeth and crowding are orthodontic concerns characterised by overlapping or misaligned teeth.
What causes it?
Crooked teeth and crowding is often hereditary, but may also be the result of:
- Inadequate space in one or both jaws
- The way the teeth have developed in childhood or early adulthood
- Habits such as thumb-sucking
- Misuse of dummies or baby bottles while the mouth and teeth were developing
- Tongue-thrusting, where your tongue pushes forward against the front teeth each time you swallow
- Mouth-breathing
- Prematurely lost teeth
- A cleft lip or palate
What impact does this have?
Crooked teeth or crowding may have a cosmetic impact on the sufferer, as well as affecting the ability to maintain good oral hygiene. It may also put undue pressure on one or more of your jaw joints and cause premature tooth wear.
How can it be treated?
Crooked teeth and crowding can be treated in several ways, including with an expander device while the jaw is still maturing and can be encouraged to widen and allow more space, as well as with braces, clear aligners such as Invisalign, the removal of one or more teeth, or even jaw surgery or a combination of a number of these treatments.
To find out more about crooked teeth and crowding, and your treatment options, contact us today to organise a free consultation with Specialist Orthodontist, Dr David Austin.