In a simple definition, crowded teeth refer to a dental condition where all your teeth do not fit within your jaw. It occurs due to a lack of enough room in the jaw to accommodate erupting teeth. Jaw size can be too small, or the teeth can be too large when you have overcrowded teeth. Everyone’s jaws have arches meant for each tooth in the mouth. The arches have particular dimensions, which teeth should fit in. Teeth with large sizes can fail to fit within these arches and cause crowding. Signs of crowded teeth include overlapping teeth and twisting of teeth within their arches.
Malocclusion is a term that also refers to crowded teeth. This is because dental overcrowding is a leading cause of misalignment in many people. Your jaw and teeth should have the same alignment. The alignment of these two and the general state of your dental health and anatomy are big determinants of your confidence. Issues like deformed teeth, overcrowded teeth, bad breath, and misalignment can diminish your self-esteem.
You end up talking and smiling less in conversations in an effort not to reveal your smile. Social interaction also reduces because you are afraid of what others might think of your smile. However, solutions like invisalign help to correct issues like deformed teeth. Orthodontics is a dental field specialized in rectifying dental problems like crowded teeth. It has helped people regain confidence in their smiles.
Dental overcrowding can affect either jaw or both jaws. Crowded bottom teeth are more common in adults than children. This is because your jaw changes as you grow older. However, we often find crowded top teeth in some instances; not all are crowded bottom teeth.
Table of Contents
Causes of Crowded Teeth
Several factors can trigger dental crowding. The age of the patient can determine the cause of the crowding and the severity. Severe crowding teeth is common in adults than children because the condition worsens without treatment. As such, treatment of dental crowding should occur as soon as you notice it in a child. Generally, the following cause overcrowding:
Family history of overcrowding teeth.
Overcrowding of teeth runs in the family. You are at a higher risk of developing crowded teeth if one of your parents had the condition before.
Dental trauma.
A forceful impact to the mouth can have some consequences. Your teeth can twist or undergo misalignment due to the impact.
Sucking of the thumb.
Thumb sucking is a common cause in children because they are more likely to suck thumbs. After a long period of thumb sucking, baby teeth move from their original position, causing misalignment. At times, the repositioning occurs with some twisting because of the small size of the jaw.
Large teeth.
In some people, teeth have larger sizes than their arch dimensions. This means that all the teeth cannot fit in the jaw due to insufficient space. Therefore, some teeth might occur in the front or at the back of others.
Jaw size.
People with a smaller jaw size are more likely to develop overcrowding of teeth. Jaws should be of a particular dimension to accommodate all teeth within the jaw. Small jaws will, therefore, have inadequate space to accommodate all teeth.
Hyperdontia.
Hyperdontia is a term that refers to the presence of extra teeth. Each person should have a standard number of teeth on each jaw. However, in some people, the teeth have an additional number. The extra teeth erupt close to regions where teeth attach to the jaw.
Aging.
Teeth in the lower jaw start moving as you grow older and can cause crowded teeth. This is why many patients who visit Voss Dental in Houston seek corrective procedures for overcrowding in the lower jaw.
Orthodontic treatment.
Shifting of teeth can occur after completing traditional orthodontic treatment. It often occurs in the lower jaw in adults, causing bottom teeth crowding after braces. However, this only happens if you fail to use retainers after.
Symptoms.
Symptoms of crowding of teeth are different in different patients. The severity of the condition determines some symptoms. For example, severe crowding can change the shape of your face, while mild to moderate crowding teeth do not. Symptoms common to patients with crowding teeth include:
- Overlapping teeth.
- Twisting teeth.
- Painful chewing.
- Speaking difficulties.Tongue biting.
What can untreated crowded teeth lead to?
Untreated crowding leads to a progression of the condition with time, making it severe. Severe crowding will generally take longer to treat than mild crowding. Another common problem of untreated crowding is poor oral hygiene. Crowding prevents you from flossing and brushing your teeth properly and deteriorates your dental health. Poor oral hygiene causes the formation of plaques, which mouth bacteria can feed on. In turn, this causes the secretion of high amounts of acids in the mouth that erodes the teeth.
How to fix crowded teeth.
Orthodontics provides several fixing options for overcrowded teeth. The common ones include:
Braces.
It is a popular treatment option that involves the use of metal wires, elastic bands, and metal or ceramic brackets. These can go over the crowded teeth or on the inside. The three materials are the key to how braces fix crowded teet. They work together in applying constant pressure to the teeth over time. You need to wear them for at least one year or as long as three years before the dentist can remove them.
The exact period depends on the severity of the condition. Severe crowding takes longer to treat than mild to moderate crowding teeth. The cost of braces in Houston is generally lower than other options for fixing the condition.
Invisalign.
Invisalign involves the use of clear aligners specifically crafted for the patient. Before settling for the treatment, you should be ready to dig deeper into your pocket because invisalign cost in Houton is high. The option is not suitable for severe crowding. It only works best for mild to moderate crowding. Patients who receive this treatment at Voss Dental in Houston often ask us how long does invisalign take for crowded teeth. It takes between one and three years, depending on the severity of your crowding.
Extraction.
Do you have crowded teeth? Is the crowding severe or due to extra teeth? If yes, then this is the best option for you. Dentists can recommend extraction of teeth that erupt outside their arches. After the extraction is complete, you may need to use either of the other three alternatives to fix the misalignment.
Veneers.
These act as masks. They mask the twisted or crooked teeth in cases of mild crowding. Orthodontic clinics usually charge veneers per tooth. Therefore, you may end up spending a lot of money if you have several twisted teeth. Treatment using veneers can take place after procedures like teeth extraction. Veneers also come in handy in teeth whitening.
How to repair crowded teeth with invisalign.
Aligners move teeth into the right position by gradually putting pressure on them. They work similarly to traditional use of metal wires. The dentist first takes a mold of your jaw and creates an aligner that fits your mouth. The aligners change one or two times a month. An orthodontist will need to take a new mold of your jaw when it is time for you to change the aligner.
This is because the same aligner will only be effective up to a certain point. The shape and alignment of your jaw and teeth, respectively, also change with time. You should wear the aligner for at least 20 hours every day. They are different from retainers, which you can wear only at night. However, you can take the aligners out when you want to eat.
Crowded teeth FAQs.
What is crowding teet?
Crowding teeth are teeth that lack inadequate space to align normally on the jaw. The jaw can either be too small or the teeth too big, leading to crowded teeth.
What is the best treatment option for crowded teeth?
Our answer to this question will depend on the severity of crowding and the patient’s financial capabilities. However, braces are often the best option. This is because the option has proof of its effectiveness and safety. They have a high success rate as well and are financially manageable for many patients.
How do braces work on crowded teeth?
They work by constantly applying pressure on the teeth to align them into place.
What problems do crowded teeth cause?
Crowded teeth cause problems such as low self-esteem and speech challenges.
Do you feel pain when treating crowded teeth?
You are bound to feel pain during the treatment process of crowded teeth. However, pain is only present in the initial stages of changing the invisalign or brace wire. After a few days, the pain subsides. During this period, your orthodontist will advise you to avoid hard foods.
Does invisalign work for crowded teeth?
Yes, it does. However, the crowding should be mild to moderate for this treatment to be effective.
Conclusion
Voss Dental in Houston is an orthodontic clinic that transforms the smiles of all our patients. Crowded teeth is one of our specialties. We answer patient questions on what does crowded teeth mean and provide them with treatment alternatives.
Our staff ensures that you are happy with the results of your treatment after it is complete. We believe that everyone should be comfortable with the appearance of their smile. The earlier you seek treatment for crowded teeth, the shorter the treatment duration, and the sooner you can regain your self-esteem.