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
(excessive protrusion of the upper jaw), or an underbite (the lower
jaw protrudes forward, causing the lower jaw and teeth to extend
out beyond the upper teeth).
What causes crooked teeth and misaligned bites?
Most
often, crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites are inherited
traits, just like 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); a jaw that is too small to accommodate erupting teeth;
gum disease; undue pressure on the teeth and gums; misalignment of
the jaw after severe facial injury; tumors of the mouth or jaw; or
habits like prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, pacifier use
beyond the age of three, or prolonged use of a bottle.
What problems are associated 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 and 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 and my bite
misaligned?
Your dentist can determine if your teeth are
crooked and bite misaligned through a routine examination of your
mouth, teeth, jaw, and facial appearance. 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 will the orthodontist perform to determine if
treatment is needed?
The orthodontist will likely take
X-rays, photographs of your face, and impressions of your teeth to
determine if and what type of treatment is needed. X-rays provide
information on the position of your teeth and roots and whether 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 among your teeth, jaws, and head. Finally, impressions
may be made of your teeth. This is done by having you bite down on
a material that is later used to create an exact copy of your
teeth.
What treatments are available to correct crooked teeth and
misaligned bites?
Once a diagnosis is made, your
orthodontist can decide the best treatment for you. 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
underbite, an operation is necessary.