There are several reasons why some people's
teeth grow in crooked, overlapping, or twisted. Some people's mouths are too
small for their teeth, which crowds the teeth and causes them to shift. In other
cases, a person's upper and lower jaws aren't the same size or are malformed,
resulting in either an overbite, when there is excessive protrusion of the
upper jaw, or an under bite, when the lower jaw protrudes forward causing the
lower jaw and teeth to extend out beyond the upper teeth.
Most often crooked teeth, overbites, and
under bites are inherited traits just as the color of your eyes or size of your
hands. Other causes of misaligned bites are early loss of baby or adult teeth;
improper fit of dental restorations (for example, fillings or crowns);
gingivitis (gum disease); undue pressure on the teeth and gums; misalignment of
jaw after severe facial injury; tumors of the mouth or jaw; or common oral
health problems in children such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, pacifier
use beyond the age of three, or prolonged use of a bottle.
What Problems Come With Crooked Teeth and Misaligned Bites?
Crooked teeth and misaligned bites can:
·
Interfere with proper chewing.
·
Make keeping teeth clean more of
a challenge, increasing the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis.
·
Strain the teeth, jaws, and
muscles, increasing the risk of breaking a tooth.
·
Make people feel self-conscious
about their appearance and affect their self-esteem.
How Do I Know if My Teeth Are Crooked or My Bite Is Misaligned?
While you can see for yourself if your teeth
are crooked, your dentist can determine if your problem warrants treatment.
Your dentist will look for the following signs:
·
Abnormal alignment of your teeth
·
Abnormal appearance of your face
·
Difficulty or discomfort when
chewing or biting
·
Speech difficulties, including a
lisp
Your dentist will usually refer you to an
orthodontist --a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of
crooked teeth and misaligned jaws.
What Tests Can I Expect at the Orthodontist?
The orthodontist will likely take X-rays,
photographs of your face, and teeth impressions to determine if and what type
of treatment is needed. X-rays provide information on the position of your
teeth and roots and if any teeth have yet to come through the gums. Special
cephalometrics or panoramic X-rays show the relationship of the teeth to the
jaws and the jaws to the head. Your orthodontist may also want to take regular
photographs of your face to further examine the relationship between your
teeth, jaws, and head. Finally, impressions may be made of your teeth. This is
done by having you bite down on a soft material that is later used to create an
exact copy of your teeth.
How Are Crooked Teeth and Misaligned Bites Treated?
Once a diagnosis is made, your orthodontist
can decide the best treatment for your teeth or misaligned bite. For some
people, a removable retainer (to stabilize the new position of teeth) will be
all that's needed to correct the problem. Removal of one or more teeth may be
required if overcrowding is the main problem. For most people, braces are
necessary to correct the problem. In rare and extreme cases, such as an extreme
overbite or under bite, an operation may be necessary.
Above article from: WebMD.com
Edward Filangeri Excellence in Dentistry
516 Hawkins Avenue
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Telephone: (631) 588-9041
516 Hawkins Avenue
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Telephone: (631) 588-9041
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