The Little Known Causes of Crooked Teeth

You might think that there’s only one cause of crooked teeth—the teeth are too big and the jaw is too small. That’s definitely a valid reason, but there are many more causes you may be unfamiliar with. Let’s take a look at these other reasons.

PRESSURE ON TEETH: Thumb- or finger-sucking or prolonged use of a pacifier or bottle into the toddler years can cause shape changes in the bones that then force teeth into poor alignment. Involuntary and unconscious tongue-thrusting while swallowing can also force the front teeth out and apart.

FACIAL INJURY: Facial trauma can also cause teeth to shift, especially if a tooth is lost in that trauma.

BABY TEETH FALLING OUT: If baby teeth are lost too soon due to decay or trauma, permanent teeth don’t have a guide to help them erupt into the proper location. Likewise, if baby teeth come out too late, permanent teeth are forced into the wrong positions.

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES: Severe nutritional deficiencies can also slow proper bone development which may mean bones may not be shaped properly to allow for correct alignment of teeth.

GENETICS: Some people have grown extra teeth—a problem of genetics—and other people never grow a full set of teeth. Both problems can cause teeth to shift from their proper positions, resulting in poor alignment. Genetics can also match up a small jaw with large teeth, as we mentioned earlier.

These are all pretty common reasons. Some less common reasons include oral tumors, gum disease, jaw fractures and improper dental work. Poorly placed dental bridges, fillings, crowns or dentures can cause unusual stresses on the teeth and bones, resulting in tooth movement and misalignment.

Why is it important to straighten crooked teeth? Because crooked teeth are much harder to keep clean which, in turn, increases the risk of decay, gum disease and tooth loss. Crooked teeth can also make it harder to chew your food properly and can place stress on the jaw joints. Of course, they also affect many people’s self-confidence and enjoyment of life!

It’s no longer necessary to wire up a mouth with brackets and rubber bands to straighten crooked teeth. Advancements in dental research have given us Invisalign —a nearly invisible system of correcting crooked teeth.

The Invisalign procedure starts with precise imaging of your teeth and mouth, followed by a customized treatment plan. The Invisalign system enables you to view the stages of improvement you’ll go through as your teeth gradually move into their correct positions. Then you’ll receive your aligners—a series of clear appliances which fit over your teeth and begin to shift their positions. You’ll progress through these aligners every week or two and check in with us periodically to make sure everything is going in the right direction.

Week by week, your teeth make small changes that add up to big improvements in your bite and alignment. You’ll wear each aligner up to 22 hours each day, removing it only when you eat or clean your teeth. Because you can remove them, it’s easy to keep your teeth clean and cavity-free—a far cry from the hassles of metal braces.

Invisalign treatment is suitable for both teens and adults. It’s so invisible that it’s possible no one will know you’re wearing them unless you tell them!

Find out if Invisalign treatment is the right solution to bring your teeth into beautiful, perfect alignment. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Davis and you can be on your way to a better smile before you know it.