Crowded Top Teeth – What Can We Do to Help?
Crowded top teeth is a condition that not only makes many people feel self-conscious, but it also creates other issues. According to studies, 21% of adults in the UK have trouble eating because of the condition of their teeth.
If you are someone who has misaligned teeth, crooked teeth, or a crossbite, dental treatment is essential to improving the quality of your oral health.
To learn more about crowded top teeth and how to fix it, continue reading the information below.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Dental crowding, or overcrowded teeth, refers to a difference between the size of the teeth and the jaw size. This orthodontic problem creates issues with speech, trouble with chewing, and even more severe problems such as gum disease.
Nobody wants crowded teeth. Everyone desires smiles that set us apart. But for a number of different reasons, teeth crowd together and sometimes the conditions can’t be managed.
Heredity, specialists claim, is responsible for the majority of crowded top teeth. If most of your family members have misaligned teeth or crowded teeth, you’ll likely have this same issue. However, this problem can also be developed because of the following:
Disease and physical injuries: Your jaw will shift out of alignment and adjust the direction of your teeth if you’re hit in the face. Also, some tumours of the mouth and jaw alter tooth placement as well.
Habits from childhood: Extensive bottle-feeding or sucking of the thumb may lead to tooth crowding.
Bad dental care: Loose or missing teeth and crowns that are poorly fitted crowns create changes in the placement of the teeth.
All the above-mentioned conditions do not cause your teeth to bunch together. Rather they change the size of your upper and lower jaw or they alter the ratio of the size of your tooth to the size of your jaw.
Crowded teeth before and after
This lovely patient of ours had an early mixed dentition of baby teeth and adult teeth. She also had severe upper and lower crowding. There was oo space for the canines on the upper and lower with the lateral incisors growing behind due to a lack of room. This caused an anterior crossbite. She had Invisalign First for 9 months, the result was well aligned teeth with a much better smile and an expansion of her arch for transition into permanent dentition.
Overcrowded Teeth Treatment in Adults
The most common option for fixing overcrowded teeth is conventional metal braces. Traditional braces are the dental treatment that most people are familiar with. For this dental treatment, you will need to see an orthodontist and have occasional appointments for tightening, realignment, and alteration.
The biggest downside of this method is the brackets and wires. Some people are self-conscious about the way braces look. But thankfully, the “brace face “look is more accepted these days and people are becoming more comfortable with it.
Even if you don’t prefer traditional braces, remember that it’s a temporary inconvenience for a permanent fix.
Overcrowded Teeth Treatment in Children
Clear aligners are an excellent choice for correcting crowded top teeth for those who feel awkward about wearing metal braces. To measure the magnitude of the overcrowding problem, you will need x-rays of the upper jaw and lower jaw. But a dental treatment like Invisalign is specifically made to fit in with natural tooth positioning.
But you’ll need to wear Invisalign trays for at least 20 hours a day until treatment is complete. Then, you’ll wear a retainer to maintain your results. The biggest advantage of this option is that clear aligners are removable braces. That means that you can take them out for a short time with no hassle.
To fix crowded top teeth in children, metal braces are generally to primary choice. However, if you have an older child or teen who prefers clear aligners, Invisalign is a good option for them.
Pulling Permanent Teeth to Make Room
The jaw is sometimes not wide enough to match the size of permanent teeth. The crowding of teeth is one reason why teeth change or shift into odd positions. However, removing one or two teeth allows braces to shift the teeth back to the correct positions.
Crooked Teeth: Should Top Teeth Overlap Bottom Teeth?
Malocclusion is a dental term for a problem with a bite, and every person has a slight malocclusion. Major malocclusions, however, may lead to breathing in the mouth and interfere with talking and eating. A poor bite can also lead to premature wear and tear of teeth and enamel.
Malocclusions can impact the overall appearance of your face as well. The most common reason for braces or orthodontic treatment is malocclusions.
For the most part, you should be able to match your top and bottom set of teeth together and form a correct bite. Your top teeth should fit over your bottom teeth just a little, and your teeth should all line up. Also, teeth are supposed to be straight and spaced evenly. But that’s not always the case for many people.
The word overjet is described as a horizontal misalignment between the upper and lower front teeth. The upper front teeth sit approximately 2 millimetres in front of the lower teeth when the alignment between these teeth is natural. A condition where the horizontal separation is greater than 2 millimetres is defined as overjet.
Class II Malocclusion: Bottom Teeth Hit Back or Front Top Teeth
For many patients with class 1 malocclusion, custom appliances are used to gradually extend the upper jaw and make room for the teeth to expand correctly. In the later stages of the straightening process, braces and other dental treatments are used to further correct the issue, based on individual cases.
For class 2 and class 3 malocclusions, the orthodontist slowly adjusts the bite to a class 1 and then straightens the teeth using standard straightening methods like metal braces or Invisalign.
Correct Your Crowded Top Teeth
If you’re ready to correct your crowded top teeth, Smile Specialist Orthodontic Centre is here for you. We specialize in correcting a number of different dental flaws such as crooked teeth, misaligned teeth, and crossbite issues.
To get started on your smile makeover, book of consultation with our Guilford office.
We look forward to seeing you soon!