Crooked teeth are a normal dental issue, as they can touch everyone from all different age groups. More than a physical aesthetic problem, some malocclusions can lead to oral health concerns but also stop us from chewing properly or make self-esteem suffer. Modern dental solutions in West Houston provide treatment options for people struggling with crooked teeth, all aimed at giving them healthier, straighter smiles as recommended by a family dentist in Memorial City, West Houston. Knowing why teeth grow crooked, and the complications that can result as a consequence will equip you with the information to take control of your oral health.
Causes of Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth, or malocclusion, can develop due to a combination of genetic factors and causes related to development and lifestyle. Its causes include:
- Hereditary: How our teeth fit together and their shape can be passed by family members, so it is considered the main cause of misalignment
- Jaw Size and Shape: A diet of soft, processed foods may contribute to smaller jaw sizes in children today compared with a few centuries ago possessing larger jaws leaving more room for teeth while reducing the chances for crowded or misaligned ones.
- Childhood Habits: Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use can affect dental development and tooth alignment.
- Neglected Dental Care: Bad oral health can lead to a compromised tooth, causing your teeth to shift out of place.
- Injury or Trauma: Injury to, and in effect your mouth can disconnect the arrangement of teeth particularly if ones are broken/chipped/moved.
- Tooth Development Problems: Abnormal eruption of adult teeth can result in crowding or spaces, and further cause high-margin malposition.
Treatment choices for Crooked Teeth West Houston
Crooked teeth are not a curse, and West Houston residents have many available options for achieving correcting alignment. These are some of the most typical ones:
- Traditional Metal Braces: For our patients with crooked or overlapping teeth who are suffering from more severe misalignment, traditional braces may be the solution. This is done using metal brackets cemented to each tooth, which are connected by wires that will be manipulated periodically to encourage movement of the teeth.
- Ceramic or Clear Braces: Ceramic braces are less visible than metal brackets because they use tooth-colored brackets. This is an alternative for individuals who desire to wear braces but want them less noticeable.
- Clear Aligners (Invisalign): Clear aligners, like Invisalign, are an increasingly common alternative to traditional braces because they offer a clear and removable option. Custom-made trays that are worn over the teeth to gradually move them into position.
- Lingual Braces: Lingual braces are like standard metal braces but placed on the backside (lingual surface) of your teeth, so they virtually can’t be seen from the front.
- Retainers: The majority of people can straighten their teeth well with orthodontics like traditional braces or Invisalign, and then wear a set of retainers at night from that point on, for life. Orthodontic treatment is not just about moving the teeth — it’s supposed to hold them there too! Retainers can be used as an alternative fix in many cases though – happy days all around.
The method of correcting crooked and misaligned teeth varies from person to person depending on what would suit the unique need or how severe an alignment is, per personal choices as well. You can speak with a West Houston dentist or orthodontist to learn what method would be best for you. Thanks to orthodontic improvements, people have improved access to a straight smile and good oral health—a primary goal that will pay off for the rest of their lives.
