How do crooked teeth get crooked, and how do you fix them? Dental crowding is a common dental issue. Teeth that don’t come in correctly can become twisted or out of place.
Crowding can happen alone or with other problems, such as overbites or crossbites. How do you fix crooked teeth? Braces can take care of it, but if you don’t want to wear braces, then Invisalign clear aligners may be perfect for you.
At Wilson and Hendrickson Orthodontics, we know how to fix crooked teeth without braces using Invisalign clear aligners. We can identify the reasons for your crowded teeth, create a treatment plan to straighten your teeth with Invisalign and leave you with a beautiful smile.
What Is Dental Crowding?
What is dental crowding? Crowding is a form of malocclusion or “bad bite.” With crowding, your teeth don’t have enough room to come through the gum properly or stay there. Instead, the teeth end up above or below where they should be, turned sideways, or moved in front or behind other teeth.
Often, the tooth will be “crooked” or turned in place. It could be turned slightly so it doesn’t line up with the other teeth or be entirely sideways. It depends on how much room it has when it comes through the gums.
Another result of dental crowding is when a tooth comes in above or below the gum line. This often happens because the teeth on either side move closer, leaving no room for the tooth to erupt in its proper place. It comes in through the side of the gums instead of the top or bottom as it’s supposed to do.
A tooth can also erupt above or behind the other teeth because there isn’t room for it when the teeth on either side have moved closer together.
These problems can affect just one or two teeth, but often they affect several teeth. Crowding can lead to serious dental health issues, from tooth decay to trouble eating. That’s why it’s vital to correct crowded teeth with orthodontic care.
How Does Crowding Happen?
What causes crowded teeth? Crowding can happen for several reasons, one of the biggest being genetics. Some people are born with jaws that are smaller than usual, and others may be born with teeth that are larger than average. In both cases, there isn’t room enough for every tooth to come in correctly, and teeth become crooked.
Other factors can lead to crowding. Baby teeth can fall out too early, leaving space there longer than it should be. That extra time gives the other teeth a chance to move closer together, leaving little or no room for the permanent tooth to come in.
Baby teeth that stick around too long can cause trouble, too. If the baby tooth is still there by the time the permanent tooth starts pushing through the gum, the permanent tooth has nowhere to go besides someplace it shouldn’t, such as in front or behind the baby tooth. Even if the baby tooth falls out as the permanent tooth is coming in, the permanent tooth rarely straightens itself.
Can Invisalign Fix Crowded Teeth?
How do you fix crooked teeth? Orthodontic treatment is the best way to correct crowded teeth. Can Invisalign fix crooked teeth? Yes, it is an excellent treatment option.
The custom-made, clear aligners use gentle pressure to move teeth into proper alignment. Invisalign can straighten crooked and crowded teeth, creating the smile you’ve always wanted.
Sometimes, we can work with the space available to straighten teeth. On occasion, extractions may be necessary to make room to straighten the teeth.
For example, if your jaw is too small for the number of teeth, we may need to reduce the number of teeth to fit your jaw properly. We will work with your dentist to determine what extractions, if any, you may need.
Another option is a palate expander. This device connects to your back molars and uses a key to push the wires against the sides of the palate and widen your jaw.
Once your jaw is ready, we can set up a treatment plan with Invisalign. We can create clear aligners that slowly turn or move teeth into their proper positions. Invisalign works great at correcting crowded teeth in most cases. If the issue is severe, other options, such as traditional braces, may be necessary.
Invisalign Before and After Crowding
We’ve told you we can use Invisalign to gradually move crooked teeth into place. But seeing is believing, right? Take a look at the results of Invisalign before and after crowding for two of our patients.
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- Before
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- After
Our first patient (above) had a mild case of crooked teeth, mainly in the upper jaw. The central incisors were spaced too far apart, which caused crowding of the lateral incisors, so much so that one was only partially distended. In addition, the patient had a mild overbite and a deep bite.
We used Invisalign clear aligners to straighten and move the central incisors together. This allowed enough room to move the lateral incisors into place and straighten the rest of the teeth. Invisalign clear aligners also moved the upper teeth back and up, restoring their bite.
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- Before
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- After
Our second patient (above) presented with large canines that were crowded out on the top and bottom jaws, which caused them to come in above and below the gum line, respectively. The central and lateral incisors were crowded together because of the misplaced canines. The patient also had a crossbite.
We used Invisalign to align the canines with the rest of the teeth and properly space the incisors. We also repaired the patient’s crossbite, giving them a straight, new smile.
Getting Started With Invisalign
Wilson and Hendrickson Orthodontics can start your Invisalign treatment in the Topeka, KS, or Lawrence, KS, areas with a virtual consultation. We will review the information and set up a free, in-person evaluation to take x-rays and 3D dental scans and complete your examination. From there, we’ll be able to figure out whether Invisalign is right for you.
Thanks to Invisalign treatment, you don’t have to live with crooked or crowded teeth. Contact us today to discuss how to get straight teeth and start your journey toward the smile of your dreams!
