Crooked Teeth
Many people have crooked teeth, and there are plenty of options for straightening crooked teeth. Your Frisco dentist at Prime Time Dentistry will recommend the best way to correct your crooked teeth by carefully considering the severity of your case, the number and location of the impacted teeth, and your personal oral health goals. While orthodontic treatment is generally effective at treating crooked or uneven teeth, it is by no means your only option.
Your dentist at Prime Time Dentistry is devoted to giving you the high-quality personalized care you deserve. We will discuss your options to ensure that you can make the best, most informed decision about your oral health care.
Why do I need to treat crooked teeth?
It is essential to fix crooked or misaligned teeth because:
- They can make your teeth more difficult to clean, making you more susceptible to periodontal disease and tooth decay.
- Crooked teeth can also cause pain when chewing because of the extra and uneven pressure, and
- Crooked teeth can even cause muscle strain leaving you susceptible to injury because of the lack of support for your jaw.
Our team will be able to determine the severity of your case and develop a personalized treatment plan that will help you straighten your teeth, experience relief from any side effects, and ensure your long-term oral health.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
- Thumb Sucking
Children who suck their thumb for several years have crooked teeth. The pressure from the thumb consistently applied to the still-growing gums causes the teeth to grow crooked, significantly outwards. Crooked teeth are more likely if this habit continues until the toddler age.
- Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting has the same effect on the teeth as thumb sucking. It can result in misaligned bites, especially an overbite, i.e., protruding upper teeth.
- Misaligned Teeth
Misaligned teeth or malocclusion occurs when the upper or lower jaw size is smaller than usual. Misaligned jaws result in problems such as overbite and underbite. In an overbite, the upper set protrudes over the lower teeth, and in an underbite, the lower set protrudes over the upper teeth.
- Genetics
Yes, crooked teeth are genetic. Children often get crooked teeth from their parents. If the crooked teeth problem runs down in the family, the children are likely to have crooked permanent teeth, too, despite following good oral care habits.
- Facial Injury
Facial trauma, such as a jaw injury in childhood, can result in displaced teeth or misaligned bites. The reason is the jaw shifts slightly from its original position, which causes the teeth to grow crooked. Facial injuries may also result in tooth loss. With any open space, the rest of the teeth tend to shift to cover that space.
Common treatments for crooked teeth
Your treatment for crooked teeth will depend on the severity of your case. Common therapies that we prescribe at Prime Time Dentistry are:
- Braces
Braces will move your teeth to the desired location. An orthodontist will discuss your options in-depth and recommend the type of braces that will work best for you.
- Invisalign
Clear removable aligners that work well for mild to moderate cases.
Learn more about straightening your smile with Invisalign here.
- Retainers
Retainers work well for moderate cases. You will also use them after orthodontic treatment to ensure that your teeth do not move back to their previous crooked position.
- Interproximal reduction
The filing down of some enamel to either decrease the size of your tooth or reshape it.
Find out more about interproximal reduction through Wikipedia here.
- Veneers
Porcelain veneers will alter the appearance of slightly crooked teeth to make them appear straight. They will not, however, change the underlying structure and should only be used in mild cases.
Learn more about how dental veneers can help correct your smile here.
- Oral Surgery
We will only suggest surgery in severe cases if the size of your jaw or crooked teeth results from severe overcrowding.
Learn more about the surgical options available at Prime Time Dentistry here.
Our Frisco dental team at Prime Time Dentistry will work closely with you to determine the treatment plan that will give you a beautiful, lasting, healthy smile. Your oral health is our top priority.
If you have crooked teeth, don’t wait to get the smile you want. To schedule your appointment to discuss crooked teeth, contact Prime Time Dentistry at 945-207-7463.
