What Causes Crooked Teeth?
If you have crooked teeth, you are not alone. Approximately two thirds of adults in the United States have some degree of crowding, spacing, or misalignment of their teeth. It’s important to understand the causes of crooked teeth and what you can do about it. Most often, crooked teeth are caused by genetics and improper use of dental appliances such as braces during childhood (called orthodontics). This article discusses the various causes and treatments available for this common condition.
How To Fix Crooked Teeth?
There are a number of reasons why teeth are crooked, with genetics being one of them. If you’re genetically predisposed to poor tooth alignment, it doesn’t mean that you can’t fix them. Other causes of crooked teeth include: prenatal and early childhood injuries, missing baby teeth or permanent teeth, previous orthodontic treatment, tooth grinding (bruxism), mouth breathing and smoking. (It is important to note that missing teeth do not cause misalignment.) Your bite may also contribute to a crooked smile—if your upper or lower jaws are out of proportion relative to each other because they do not meet correctly in an anterior-posterior direction.
How Much Will It Cost To Fix A Crooked Tooth?
On average, a set of braces runs between $5,000 and $7,000—and that’s not including visits to your orthodontist every three months or any other cosmetic procedures. Sometimes insurance will cover some of your costs; sometimes they won’t (more on that below). And in some cases, you might need to get implants for missing teeth before you get braces.
How Crooked Teeth Can Impact Your Health?
When your teeth are crooked, they can become misaligned and affect your bite. When your bite isn’t aligned, it can lead to pain in other parts of your mouth. This condition is known as TMJ syndrome (temporomandibular joint syndrome), which causes muscle strain and clenching of teeth.
The whole issue may be painful and uncomfortable but what makes matters worse is that it’s a long-term ailment and no amount of medication or medicines will help you get rid of it. Regular dental checkups can help you stay on top of any issues before they become painful or cause damage to other organs such as your jawbone or facial muscles. Be sure to ask about preventive care for correct alignment during your next appointment with our Dental Office !
What Happens When You Ignore Crooked Teeth?
Although it’s tempting to ignore crooked teeth and wait until you’re older to fix them, your dentist may advise you that delaying treatment is not an option. Untreated orthodontic problems may get worse over time. Common complications include tooth decay, infections and pain. Eventually, these conditions could cause permanent damage or infection; they might also impact your overall health in ways you don’t anticipate—crooked teeth could hurt your bite (which can lead to headaches) or affect your confidence and self-esteem as a result of a deformed smile. When left unchecked. Orthodontic problems can be quite expensive to treat in adulthood. So it makes sense to invest in treatment as soon as possible.
