Crooked Teeth: Should You Fix Them or Leave Them?

A perfect smile is a dream for everybody but what if you have crooked teeth? It can be one of the main reasons you hesitate and feel low self-confidence. Not only this but it further leads to different issues such as difficulty with speaking or eating. If you are looking for a perfect way to treat your smile, here is a complete guide.

What Are Crooked Teeth?

Crooked tooth is a dental condition that refers to the misalignment of your smile. Due to multiple reasons your teeth may twist, bend, or get their positions changed contributing to a misalignment of the smile and leaving a bad impact on your personality.

Types of Crooked Teeth

To understand crooked teeth, it is important to know the following types of dental misalignments:

• Overbite

  The condition where the upper jaw overlaps the lower jaw more than usual is an overbite leading to jaw pain and tooth erosion.

• Openbite

  Openbite refers to the malocclusion in which the front teeth are grown outwards, preventing jaws from meeting.

• Crowding

  When the jaw lacks enough space in the mouth to hold all your teeth, they may overlap. This condition is termed dental crowding.

• Spacing

  Dental spacing, also known as diastema, is when a person experiences a visible gap between teeth.

Causes of Crooked Teeth

The following are some causes of a crooked smile:

• Genetics

  One of the most common reasons a person has a misaligned smile is genetics, which is responsible for jaw development.

• Jaw Size

  If a jaw size is too small it prevents accommodating all the teeth. Similarly, if a jaw size is too big your teeth will have visible gaps between them.

• Dental Trauma

  A hard blow or pressure when experienced on the smile can lead to a shift in the alignment of the teeth.

• Aging

  As an individual grows older, there are biological changes in the body. The shift in the jaw size is one of them that changes the position of the smile.

Importance of Treating Crooked Teeth

Since a crooked smile leads to multiple dental problems, it is important to treat your smile for the following reasons:

• Improved Chewing

  A person having an asymmetrical smile might face difficulty in biting and chewing. In some cases, misalignment causes jaw pain which prevents proper functionality. Therefore treating a perfectly aligned smile is crucial to promote better chewing.

• Better Speech

  Due to the misalignment, a person can not pronounce certain words properly. For a student or a working person, this can be a reason for the lack of confidence. Hence, to improve the speech, get your misaligned smile treated.

• Prevent Gum Diseases

  A crooked smile prevents proper cleaning of the mouth. No matter if you brush twice a day, there are higher chances of food particles remaining stuck in the mouth, particularly in a crowded smile condition. The lack of proper hygiene leads to plaque accumulation hence causing further gum diseases. A perfectly aligned smile enhances dental hygiene and prevents gum diseases.

• Better Jaw Alignment

  Even if you experience slight pain in your jaw, take it as an early sign of a TMJ disorder, common in 5 to 12 percent of adults. To prevent this, it is important to align your smile so that your jaw stays in position.

• Enhanced Confidence

  One of the most important reasons for aligning your imperfect smile is the aesthetic appearance. Once the smile is perfect, you can freely interact with people with enhanced confidence.

Options For Treating Crooked Teeth

If you are thinking of aligning your smile to prevent dental complications, the following are some options to treat it:

Metal Braces

Metal braces treatment is a traditional orthodontic method that helps in aligning the smile. These are metal brackets attached to your teeth, along with the metal wire. It requires frequent dental visits to tighten the wire which brings teeth to the desired position. These are visible and might irritate your gums and cheeks.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are a series of customized dental trays that are placed inside your mouth to bring a desired change to your smile. These are worn for 20 to 22 hours per day, applying gentle pressure on your teeth. Aligners are made up BPA free plastic material offering a snug fit to your smile. Unlike metal braces treatment, clear aligners are invisible, removable, and comfortable.

Orthognathic Surgery

Orthognathic surgery, also known as teeth straightening surgery is usually done for severe dental conditions. The alignment of the jaw plays a crucial role in maintaining the alignment of the smile. If the jaws do not come together when closed, you might need dental surgery. This is mostly done in conditions where metal braces or clear aligners do not work.

Begin Your Smile Treatment With Smilepath

Now that you are aware of why treating your smile is important, Smilepath is here to help you out. Keeping your comfort in notice, clear aligners are customized for a perfect fit. Not only this but we offer different payment plans. Opt for daytime clear aligners or nightly clear aligners depending on your condition. Get your hands on the Smilepath clear aligners in the following steps:

1. Smile Impressions

For clear aligner customization, we require your dental impressions. This can be done using a Smilepath impression kit or by booking a digital scan appointment.

2. Treatment Approval

A dentist-approved 3D treatment plan will be generated for you, showing you the final smile results. You can approve it or modify it according to your requirements.

3. Transform Your Smile

You will receive your customized clear aligners at your doorstep. Wear them and treat your crooked teeth. You can also keep a check on your progress using an aligner tracker app.

To sum it up, the most important thing when it comes to your dental health is a perfectly aligned position. If you have crooked teeth there are higher chances of experiencing low self-confidence. Not only this but misalignment of the smile leads to further complications as well. Therefore, it is crucial to treat crooked teeth to experience enhanced oral health.

Frequently Asked Questions