Crooked Teeth

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Crooked teeth can be caused by several oral health problems. For instance, the premature loss of milk teeth, thumb sucking or issues with wisdom teeth can all lead to problems with crooked teeth. Similarly, we can often inherit crooked teeth from our parents. Crooked teeth can cause a range of problems with the way your teeth connect, known as your 'bite' or 'occlusion'. If your teeth don't connect properly because of crookedness, this is known as, malocclusion. Fortunately, there is a specialist field of dentistry which concentrates on fixing the alignment of your teeth called, Orthodontics.

Orthodontic Treatment

In Orthodontics, patients are commonly fitted with a special aligning device which may be a brace or another form of aligner. Using gentle but constant pressure, specific teeth are gradually moved into the correct position over a number of months. In some cases however, there will not be enough room in your mouth for your teeth to correctly align. In cases such as this, some teeth may need to be extracted before you can commence orthodontic treatment. In the most severe cases, patients may require surgery on their jaw before undergoing orthodontic treatment. In the past, most orthodontic treatment was initiated during childhood, whilst problems with a patients bite could be fixed in adulthood; it tended to take much longer. However due to the rise in popularity of cosmetic dentistry, many more adults are now opting for orthodontic treatments in later life to fix aesthetic issues.

Depending on the brace you are assigned and the extent of the orthodontic issue, orthodontic treatment can take anywhere between six months and two years. As you undergo treatment, you will need to have regular follow up visits with your dentist so that your progress can be monitored and adjustments made to your brace. In order to achieve quick and efficient results, it is important to wear your brace for the assigned periods and to follow all instructions carefully. It is also important to care for your natural teeth during the treatment period, as several types of brace can leave your mouth particularly vulnerable to a number of oral health issues.

Types of Braces

In the past, the only option available to patients was highly visible braces composed of metal wires and brackets. Fortunately, there is now more options than ever for patients who are undergoing orthodontic treatment for crooked teeth. Many patients were put-off wearing a brace by the aesthetic issues that it inevitably brought. A number of braces now try to minimise the aesthetic impact of wearing an orthodontic device such as the new breed of 'invisible' braces such as; Invisalign and Lingual braces. Similarly, for those wanting quick and efficient results, braces such as Invisalign Express and the 6-Month Smiles range, can help. Similarly, many new types of brace are completely removable which means that patients with crooked teeth can care for their teeth as they normally would and not have to worry about avoiding certain foods which could potentially harm their brace.

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