CROWDED TEETH

The problem of crowded teeth is a common dental health concern for children as young as three to five years old. However, most orthodontists don’t suggest starting dental treatment at this delicate phase and ask parents of the affected children to wait until the permanent teeth have erupted. In the case of crowded teeth, the main goal of orthodontic treatment is evaluating the affected child when he/she is between 5 to 8 years old while determining the actual cause of the problem and coming up with the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Crowded teeth affect an individual when the teeth and gums are in a developmental stage and if this problem isn’t addressed during childhood, crowded teeth continue to impact the affected individual’s quality of life. There are cases when teeth simply come close together while at times, the problem is worsened by the growth of additional teeth, leading to dental issues like crooked smile and abnormal bite.

So, what causes crowded teeth?

Crowded teeth can have a number of different causes. One of the major causes behind this problem is the role of genetics. In many cases, parental DNA affects the function as well as structure of the teeth and jaws, which eventually contributes in the occurrence of crowded teeth. Any person born with an abnormally small upper or lower jaw can also develop the problem.

Other causes include cleft lip, which happens when there’s a natural gap in the top lip. Another cause of crowded teeth is excess tooth growth, which involves unusual growth of teeth. In some cases, oral diseases like mouth tumors can negatively impact the function as well as the formation of the jaw, eventually leading to orthodontic problems including crowded teeth. Tooth trauma and injury are yet other factors that contribute in the occurrence of crowded teeth. Re-healing a fractured jaw may cause the teeth to become crowded.

Orthodontic Treatment and Crowded Teeth

Many people overlook the importance of getting the required orthodontic treatment to address the problem of crowded teeth. But the fact of the matter is that the treatment isn’t only necessary for improving the affected individual’s facial appearance but it’s more important in terms of enhancing the speech as well as lip support. Crowded teeth can affect dental health in several ways and one of the major issues faced by people experiencing this problem is maintaining oral hygiene.

An orthodontist will not only diagnose the underlying cause of crowded teeth but he’ll also come up with the most suitable treatment option. The treatment strategy may include jaw reconstruction and even plastic surgery for correcting as well as re-modeling the facial appearance and function. This is usually done when problems like cleft lip are the cause of crowded teeth. In some cases, tooth extraction and gum re-shaping are part of the orthodontic treatment whereas sometimes, veneers are used for giving the affected teeth a straighter and better appearance. Braces, Invisalign and other orthodontic devices may also be used for correcting misaligned or crowded teeth.