Teeth Crowding Treatment
Teeth crowding is a common condition where there is not enough space in the mouth for erupting adult teeth to erupt in proper alignment. When the teeth come in, they may come in crooked, misaligned, twisted, or overlapped with other teeth. This type of malocclusion can happen with one or multiple teeth on the upper and/or lower jaw. Our Kansas City and Shawnee orthodontist at Huerter Orthodontics regularly provides teeth crowding treatment to repair overcrowding and prevent common problems associated with this diagnosis.
Why Do Teeth Become Crowded?
Teeth can become overcrowded in the jaw simply because the jaw does not have enough space to accommodate the size or number of teeth erupting. With insufficient space available, teeth come in twisted, at odd angles, or overlapping each other. All of the following situations can cause teeth crowding:
- The upper or lower jaw is too small for the teeth.
- The teeth are larger than the available space in the jaw.
- A combination of small jaw space and large teeth.
- A narrow palate (roof of the mouth).
- The presence of extra teeth.
- A tooth breaks or goes missing, leaving a gap that other teeth shift into.
What Causes Teeth Crowding?
Teeth crowding often forms because of genetics, developmental, and sometimes behavioral factors. For instance, genetics largely determines the size of a person’s jaw and the size and shape of their teeth. If a child knocks out or loses a baby tooth prematurely, this can also affect how the permanent teeth grow in. Childhood behavioral habits, like pacifier or thumb-sucking, can also cause a risk of teeth-spacing problems.
Early orthodontic treatment (Phase One), which starts when a child is about eight or nine years old, can help guide jaw growth and tooth eruption. Preemptive teeth crowding treatment with our orthodontist in Kansas City and Shawnee can accommodate incoming permanent teeth better to prevent or lessen the severity of overcrowding.
Risks of Dental Crowding
The aesthetic problems associated with a crowded smile can cause embarrassment and anxiety, which is bad enough, especially for adolescents who often struggle with this condition. Worse yet, there are also long-term dental health risks associated with crowded teeth:
- They can lead to bite problems, interfere with proper chewing, and affect clear speech.
- Crowded teeth can make thorough brushing and flossing a challenge. This allows plaque and bacteria to build up in hard-to-reach spaces, causing cavities and gum disease.
Sometimes, dental crowding also causes patients pain and pressure in the jaw or gums as the teeth compete for space.
Teeth Crowding Treatment in Kansas City and Shawnee
Here at Huerter Orthodontics, Dr. Huerter often treats and repairs cases of tooth overcrowding. Each patient is different, so we will do a thorough diagnosis of conditions in the jaw and the teeth to develop an orthodontic plan to create the necessary space for the teeth to fit into proper alignment. Your orthodontist will perform a full clinical exam that usually includes panoramic X-rays, a bite analysis, digital scans, and sometimes dental impressions.
Teeth crowding treatment may involve removing extra teeth, if appropriate, and applying braces. Braces apply a controlled, gradual force to the teeth, which shifts them into correct alignment over a period of months, and sometimes years, depending on the patient’s needs. Correcting crowded teeth may also require the use of a palate expander or other appliances such as retainers or clear aligners.
Visit the Orthodontist Kansas City and Shawnee Neighbors Trust for Teeth Overcrowding Treatment
Modern orthodontic technology makes it possible to align and achieve a beautiful, straight smile, even in cases of severe tooth overcrowding. And with Phase One orthodontic care for children, we can even prevent many of the worst teeth crowding problems before they erupt. If you or a family member is struggling to brush, floss, or smile confidently with crowded teeth, please schedule an appointment with us here at Huerter Orthodontics for a consultation.
