Orthodontists Help With Problems Like Crooked Teeth
An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in diagnosing and treating irregularities in the teeth and jaws. Just one example of these types of irregularities is crooked teeth. You can learn more in this article about crooked teeth, some issues that can come from them, and the ways an orthodontist can help.
Some causes of crooked teeth
Crowding - One of the reasons why some people have crooked teeth is because they have teeth that are crowded. When someone has teeth that are too close to each other, the teeth can press against one another and even overlap in some areas. This will cause crookedness in their teeth.
Gapping - Just as how having teeth too close together can cause crookedness, having too much space between teeth can also cause crookedness. When there are spaces between someone's teeth, it can allow the teeth to have too much room, where they can end up moving in different directions.
Jaw size - One of the things that can end up causing crowding or spacing of teeth is the size of a person's jaw. For example, a person can have jaws that are small and cause tooth crowding. Or, a person can have jaws that are large and this can cause the spacing.
Misaligned jaw - Another thing that can contribute to a person having crooked teeth is having jaws that are misaligned. An example of this kind of issue would be having an overbite. With an overbite, the top front teeth will come out and over the bottom teeth. The angle at which the teeth can grow from the jaw can create either extra space or crowding.
Some treatments for crooked teeth
Invisible aligners - One type of treatment for crooked teeth can be invisible aligners. These are aligners that are made to fit your teeth just right, with one exception. The aligners will put pressure on parts of your teeth that causes them to shift in a way that straightens them. As they begin to straighten, new aligners will be made to ensure your teeth continue moving until they are straightened as much as possible.
Braces - Another treatment for crooked teeth is to have braces put on them that put pressure on them to move them. The braces will be tightened as the treatment goes on as well. This causes them to continue moving the teeth until they get where they should be. Braces can straighten teeth faster than aligners, which is why some prefer to go this route.
Tooth extraction - If a person's teeth are crooked because of crowding that can be resolved by pulling a tooth, then this can be done. As the tooth creates some space, the teeth can space out and straighten out.