How Do You Treat Teeth Crowding?

Ideally, in your mouth, there is the right amount of space for your teeth to come up without crowding the mouth or leaving any gaps. When your mouth is closed, your top teeth should hang slightly over the bottom teeth and should align in a comfortable place when biting down. If your mouth does not have enough space for all of your teeth, causing them to be misaligned or twisted, this is called dental crowding. As a child, when your teeth come in, they find the quickest way to erupt out of the gums, even if that means interfering with the path of another tooth. This can lead to a very crowded or crooked-looking smile. Dental crowding can be orthodontically corrected. The orthodontist will create extra space in the mouth, most commonly by removing extra or unnecessary teeth, and once that space is created, braces are put on to align the teeth, correct the crowding, and prevent further oral issues.

Problems Resulting from Dental Crowding

It is very important to treat crowded teeth to prevent further oral health issues. When teeth are crowded, it can be very hard to keep them clean. This can cause bacteria and plaque buildup, which can lead to further oral health issues. Some common problems resulting from dental crowding include, but are not limited to: cavities, dental disease, tooth or jaw aches, troubling chewing or biting, and Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

How to Fix Dental Crowding

Oftentimes, crowded teeth can worsen with age, causing further oral health complications, so it is important to treat crowded teeth early on. There are multiple treatment options depending on your age and the type of crowding you have.

Braces: All ages are eligible for this common treatment option for dental crowding. Braces bring back order and alignment to your smile, they help to create necessary space between the teeth to improve oral hygiene, reduce pain or discomfort, prevent crowding from worsening, and to enhance aesthetics and confidence. A few common types of braces include, but are not limited to: traditional metal braces, clear braces, ceramic braces, and lingual braces (attached to the back side of teeth).

Invisalign: Invisalign, similar to braces, is designed to straighten teeth by applying pressure to shift the teeth into alignment. This treatment is practically invisible and can be removed for eating and cleaning, making it better for oral hygiene than braces. Invisalign is made of smooth plastic, which causes much less irritation and soreness from the wires and brackets of braces. While there are many benefits to Invisalign over braces, braces are much more effective for severe dental crowding issues, misalignment, and bite problems.

Veneers: A veneer is custom-made of porcelain or composite that is bonded to the front of the tooth to improve the appearance. Think of them as a mask to cover the crowding. They are a cosmetic fix, but not a substitute for orthodontic treatment. Veneers are very durable and can last between 10 and 20 years.

Retainers: Retainers can be used to improve minor crowding. Similar to Invisalign, they apply gentle pressure to prevent any teeth from shifting. Most commonly, retainers are used after Invisalign or braces to preserve the positive results of orthodontic treatment.

Dentofacial Orthopedics: This treatment is used for severe cases of crowded teeth. This speciality treats both the teeth as well as the facial structure (including the jaw) to provide better structure for the teeth. This is commonly done before orthodontic treatment in children to help guide the jaw while it develops.

If you are struggling with dental crowding, contact your dentist or orthodontist for their expert opinion. They may recommend you seek orthodontic treatment so that you no longer have to live with this condition.

Related Article: Can Crowded Teeth Get Worse?