We often talk about our options for addressing minor or severe cases of misalignment, but why do we need to straighten our teeth? While treatment will definitely improve overall esthetics, correcting your misalignment could also help you enjoy better oral health. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist explains why people of all ages with uneven teeth should consider treatment!
The Causes of Poor Alignment
What causes teeth to become crooked, crowded, or to overlap one another? Factors vary, but could include premature loss of baby teeth that caused issues with permanent teeth erupting. The baby teeth could also fail to fall out on time, causing impaction and misalignment with permanent teeth. Issues with the growth of the jaw and oral structures could impact alignment as well. Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting in childhood has also altered the position of the teeth in negative ways. As part of your treatment, we will take detailed digital images to assess the cause and extent of your misalignment, so we can choose the most appropriate treatment option.
Common Oral Health Complications
Uneven teeth actually make thorough brushing and flossing a difficult process, meaning food particles could remain trapped between teeth for bacteria to reach and break down. Over time, this increases the risk of issues like tooth decay, dental infection, gingivitis, and even gum disease. Poor alignment also strains the jaw joints and could upset overall bite balance, the resulting imbalance leading to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). These issues could cause damaged teeth and painful symptoms. Finally, you could simply feel embarrassed about your smile, which impacts your interactions in social situations.
Starting Your Treatment
Do you want to tackle this issue for yourself, or for your children? Then give us a call! We will use advanced technology to decide the best course of treatment. For children, we could guide the growth and development of the smile, easing the severity of misalignment with teeth spacers and retainers. In the teen years, we could offer Invisalign® aligners or tooth-colored brackets to make metal braces less visible. These same treatments also help smiles in adulthood too. If you like to learn more about addressing your uneven smile, then please give our team a call today. We want to help you and your family enjoy your best possible smiles by improving overall alignment.
Do You Have an Uneven Smile?
Care with braces or aligners could help you enjoy a more even and healthy smile, often in as little as a year. To learn about how we help reposition your uneven teeth, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in White Settlement, North Fort Worth, and all surrounding communities.
