Types Of Crooked Teeth And How To Fix Them
Malocclusion is the term used for misaligned teeth or bite. Crooked or misaligned teeth are a common dental issue and can make a person extremely self-conscious. This cosmetic condition can occur at any age due to innumerable reasons like a chronic habit of thumb-sucking or using a pacifier, early loss of baby teeth, oral or facial injury, genetics, and poor dental hygiene.
Crooked teeth can affect your overall life as misaligned teeth can create issues in chewing and digestion, make you self-conscious, have speech difficulties, and have tooth decay or gum diseases. This article will talk about the types of crooked teeth and ways to treat them.
Types of crooked teeth
There are different types of misaligned teeth. Some of them are explained below:
– Overcrowding: Overcrowding is the most common orthodontic issue among adults. In overcrowding, the teeth get crooked or overlap due to a lack of space.
– Overjet: Overjet occurs when the top teeth outstretch the bottom teeth horizontally. A person suffering from overjet can face issues with their speech and eating.
– Overbite: Overbite is a condition where the top front teeth overlap the bottom front teeth. This overlap can sometimes exceed the gums.
– Crossbite: In this dental condition, the upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth when the mouth is resting or closed. Crossbite can affect the teeth towards the back of your mouth.
– Anterior crossbite (underbite): In this situation, the lower teeth extend further than the upper teeth.
– Spacing: spacing is the gap that is caused between two or more teeth that can happen because of small teeth or missing teeth, thumb sucking, or tongue thrusting.
– Diastema: The space between the front two teeth is known as a diastema.
– Open bite: Open bite is when the front and the bottom teeth don’t touch each other when the mouth is fully closed. There is a persistent opening between the top and bottom teeth.
Treatment
Here are the ways that you can opt to treat crooked teeth:
Invisalign
Invisalign is a dental treatment in which customized clear braces are used to straighten misaligned teeth. In this procedure, clear braces are used to cover your teeth to put your teeth back in proper position over time. These braces are removable and less noticeable as compared to traditional braces. These braces are used to treat spacing, overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite, and overcrowded teeth. Invisalign is easy to wear, fits smoothly, and is the best option for teenagers and adults. These clear braces are easy to maintain, comfortable, require fewer checkups, and have a shorter treatment duration.
Regular Braces
Braces are the most common procedure available to treat crooked teeth. There are three types of braces include traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and lingual braces. Traditional metal braces are made of stainless steel, and a metal bracket is used to attach them to each tooth with the help of orthodontic glue. Ceramic braces are clear and can bend with your natural tooth color. Lingual braces are fixed towards the back of the teeth.
Conclusion
Cosmetic dentistry options are meant to enhance your appearance and make you feel confident about your smile. It is highly advisable to consult an orthodontist before planning any such procedure. An orthodontist will examine and assess your teeth, jaw, and mouth and provide you with a solution to the condition. Misaligned or crooked teeth are a common dental condition faced by teens and adults. Go for treatment only if it’s causing health or self-confidence issues.
