The reasons for crooked teeth are numerous, and so are the potential for further issues they may cause further down the line. Thankfully, however, treatments for crooked teeth are also plentiful. In this article, we will go through the causes, as well as some of the potential problems that crooked teeth can cause. Finally, we will see what treatments are available for crooked teeth.
Causes of Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth can arise from many different reasons. While some of these reasons relate to hereditary conditions, others are caused by developmental factors, malnutrition, or injuries suffered on the cheeks or the chin. Each of these factors can cause the teeth to grow in a misaligned and malpositioned manner through a different mechanism.
Both baby teeth and permanent teeth can become crooked over time. However, having crooked baby teeth does not always mean that the growing permanent teeth will be crooked as well.
Sometimes, baby teeth can become crooked just because they are too small for the tooth socket they locate. If however, baby teeth have grown crowded by jamming together, permanent teeth can also grow in a similar form. Also, if one or more of the baby teeth have fallen earlier than they naturally would due to trauma or tooth decay, the permanent teeth that replace the baby teeth may grow in a malpositioned way.
Some oral habits and repetitive behaviors can also lead to crooked teeth development, especially in children. These include extended use of pacifiers or bottles, thumb sucking, and mouth breathing.
Other reasons behind crooked teeth can be listed as follows:
Genetics (Hereditary Reasons)
You may simply inherit genetics from your parents that possibly lead to crooked teeth. If your ancestors had crooked or crowded teeth, or have an overbite/underbite, they may pass it over to you. Genetics is probably the leading factor among the causes of crooked teeth.
Jaw Misalignment
Also known as malocclusion, jaw misalignment is the case where the upper and lower jaws are not aligned properly over each other. Normally, the upper teeth should fit slightly over the lower teeth. If they protrude too far forward, this may lead to an overbite. If lower teeth slightly protrude, this means an underbite.
Facial Trauma
Taking a hit on the face or over the mouth may also result in periodontal diseases leading the teeth to get knocked out of their proper alignment.
Lack of Proper Dental Care
Not following proper oral hygiene, and a lack of at least yearly dental checks can lead to the development of gum diseases and rotten teeth, which, in turn, may lead to crooked teeth.
Malnutrition
A less-than-healthy diet and inadequate nutrition can also cause tooth decay and unhealthy development of teeth. These, in turn, are conditions that can lead to crooked teeth. Malnutrition may have ill effects, especially at young ages.
Fixing Misaligned Teeth
To fix, or not to fix? Many find themselves asking this question for their crooked tooth. The answer depends on a few things.
First off, not every case of crooked teeth needs straightening out. If your teeth and gums are otherwise healthy, that one crooked tooth or two can be part of your physical charm, and can make your smile unique to you. However, there are some cases where crooked teeth should indeed be fixed, as they could otherwise impact chewing function or oral health.
Moreover, most people feel like they appear funny, unattractive, or just aren’t taken seriously by others due to their crooked teeth. You put up that nice simple and that one crooked bottom teeth take over the whole show.
If they negatively impact your self-esteem or you want them straightened, you can always get them fixed. Moreover, if they are causing one or more potential health problems we will take a look at them in a bit in which case straightening the crooked teeth is recommended.
Issues Caused by Crooked Teeth
As mentioned earlier, crooked teeth can sometimes lead to problems beyond just an unusual look. This can range from self-esteem-related problems to the functioning of teeth for chewing, or even many other various diseases.
To count a few of the common issues that may stem from crooked teeth:
- Crooked teeth can interfere with proper chewing function, which, in turn, may cause digestion problems
- Crooked teeth can also impact the way you articulate sounds, and may potentially cause speech difficulties
- The risk of tooth decay may become a lot more likely to occur, as it tends to be difficult to properly clean between crooked teeth.
- More seriously, this difficulty in cleaning cavities created by misaligned teeth can eventually cause serious gum diseases. Left untreated, this can progress into a severe case of periodontitis.
- Increased wear is another potential issue your crooked teeth can cause. They can cause excess wear on teeth, gums, and put more stress on the jawbones, muscles, and joints. These can also cause chronic headaches.
- Crooked teeth can negatively affect your self-esteem. This can make you refrain from laughing or smiling and even lead to being socially avoidant.
Options for Straightening Your Teeth
There are many ways to straighten your crooked teeth; each suits better or worse, depending on the patient’s needs.
Braces are one of the first options one can think of and works efficiently for most people. After all, it works well for most adults or young adults. On the flip side, however, the treatment takes considerable time, and living with the braces in the meanwhile takes some getting used to.
Another tool for teeth straightening is Invisalign. They are a lot less visible than braces. At the same time, however, they take the longest time to fully straighten your crooked teeth.
There are also a few surgical treatments for crooked teeth. These can minimize the amount of time between your crooked teeth, and a beautiful smile. Perhaps, the most expedient options are using dental crowns or veneers/laminate veneers, especially if the tooth isn’t fully healthy anymore.
Veneers for crooked teeth can come in two different ways: Full veneers, or laminate veneers. Considerably crooked teeth, especially if they also suffer from other dental health problems, may be better off with a dental crown or a full veneer. They are also usually more durable than laminate veneers.
However, if the teeth are healthy, a laminate veneer can fix your crooked teeth by removing only a very thin portion of their original enamel.
Either way, you can quickly be back into the business without having to take extra care of your treatment as braces or Invisalign procedures may require. This makes the veneers a more suitable teeth straightening option for people in high-profile professions where their appearance is crucial.
You can reach our previous article from https://smileteamturkey.com/blog/how-to-take-care-of-veneers/
