Crooked Teeth Causes and Treatment Options

Crooked or misaligned teeth are very common. Do you ever look at somebody with perfectly straight teeth and question how lucky they are to have perfectly straight teeth with a beautiful smile?

Well, we are here to tell you that luck doesn't have anything to do with those perfectly aligned teeth. We understand that a beautiful smile is something every person loves flaunting, it’s a part of our personality. Having crooked, misaligned or overlapping teeth can not only flash a poor smile but at times can affect our confidence too.

However, there is no need to live with it! Crooked, misaligned teeth can be fixed through various orthodontic treatments. Unlike decades ago, where there were a few traditional options available, today advanced dental technologies have made it possible to have more than one option available to give you that perfect smile with minimum pain and much quicker results than before.

Before we need to understand the various treatment options, let us understand the causes of crooked teeth and the impact they can have on our oral health.

What causes crooked teeth?

Teeth can either come in crooked or they can become crooked. Having crooked baby teeth does not guarantee that your child will have crooked permanent teeth. However, if baby teeth grow crowded, the permanent teeth may become crowded as well. Here are a few reasons why teeth grow crooked:

Thumb and Tongue Sucking: The pressure from the thumb consistently applied to the still-growing gums can cause the teeth to grow crooked, especially outwards. Children who constantly suck on their thumbs are more prone to having crooked teeth. Tongue thrusting has the same effect on the teeth as thumb sucking and can result in misaligned bites, especially an overbite.
Jaw Size: Studies show that evolved smaller jaw sizes are responsible for crowded or crooked teeth. The reason for smaller jaws is our modern diet which requires less chewing compared to the food consumed by our ancestors. This change has probably altered our jaw size. Misaligned jaws cause issues like overbite and underbite. In an overbite, the upper set of teeth projects over the lower teeth, and in an underbite, the lower set of teeth projects over the upper teeth.
Genetics: If crooked teeth run in the family, children are likely to have crooked permanent teeth too despite following good oral care habits.
Poor Dental Care: Not having proper oral hygiene - regular brushing, flossing and dental check-up can cause problems like gum disease and cavities, which when left untreated, can result in crooked teeth and other dental health issues.

Other causes include facial injury and poor nutrition.

Sakra World is one of the best orthodontic treatment clinics in Bangalore. Our highly experienced Orthodontists from the top dental institutions are committed to providing the best crooked teeth treatment.
Crooked teeth not only affect your aesthetics but can also cause other oral and overall complications like pain while eating or inability to chew food properly which can cause indigestion. It can affect your speech and affect the way you articulate sound.

Additionally, crooked teeth are difficult to clean and can hence lead to oral diseases like periodontitis and severe periodontitis can cause bone and tooth damage. Crooked teeth can also cause excessive wear and tear on the teeth, gums and jaw muscles, which can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder, cracked teeth or jaw strain.

Like we said, if you are having crooked teeth and are not comfortable with them, you do not have to live with them! There are several treatment options that you can discuss with a dentist or orthodontist and understand the procedures or the treatments.

1. Braces

Metal Braces: Fixed metal braces are stainless steel brackets and wires that attach to your teeth with rubber bands and flexible wire. Mostly opted by people who have complex dental alignment issues.
Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces are similar to metal braces, although they are more prone to staining and could break easily. They use clear or tooth-colored brackets.
Invisible Braces: Invisible braces, like Invisalign, are best for those who find the idea of metal braces and brackets too unattractive. Invisalign is a cutting-edge method of teeth straightening. These aligners are comfortable, removable and invisible. They are worn over your teeth and customized as per your requirement.

There are no brackets or metal wires to tighten, they just gradually and gently shift the teeth into position. These clear plastic aligners help give you a perfect smile without anyone knowing that you are straightening your teeth.

2. Teeth-Straightening Surgery

Surgical procedures for straightening teeth are another option. If the reason for crooked teeth is due to overcrowding, surgery is recommended – Your orthodontist might suggest a minor surgical procedure designed to reposition the bones and gums that help hold your teeth in place - where the dental surgeon will extract the teeth that cause the crowding. If this results in gaps, dental implants will be used to fill them.

If you are looking for crooked teeth treatment in Bangalore, consult our team of the best Orthodontist in Bangalore at Sakra World Hospital. We offer the best dental treatments in Bangalore.