Crooked teeth are a common orthodontic health concern for aesthetic and oral health reasons, affecting both children and adults. Patients typically desire a more beautiful smile but receive far more than straighter teeth. Straightening crooked teeth will enhance the function and comfort of the bite and can help improve overall oral health. Many patients may not realize that crooked teeth can cause additional oral health complications, damaging the gums, teeth, and jaw.
Crooked teeth can be treated using a range of orthodontic treatment options. Board-certified Timonium, MD, orthodontist Dr. Mohammad Izadi provides a full range of orthodontic treatment options to help patients conservatively and efficiently reposition teeth for a straighter and healthier smile.
Izadi Orthodontics takes a personalized approach to all aspects of your orthodontic care. Through a thorough analysis of your bite alignment and skeletal structure, Izadi Orthodontics can provide tailored orthodontics for long-term results.
Treating Crooked Teeth for Children
Izadi Orthodontics promotes Phase I treatment for children and encourages parents to bring their children in for an orthodontic analysis by age 7. Early intervention with a two-phase treatment plan helps Izadi Orthodontics correct your child’s orthodontic concerns before they affect their facial structure or bite function.
This is a 10-year-old female patient with a cleft palate/lip and a missing front tooth. An oral surgeon performed total orthodontic correction and cleft repair. Temporary Bridgework was used for the missing tooth, followed by an implant after growth completion. The total treatment time was 28 months.
Izadi Orthodontics corrects the underlying issues that create crooked teeth to prevent the need for more extensive treatment later in life. Phase I Treatment can help children avoid tooth damage and jaw discomfort and support a more confident and happy smile.
Treating Crooked Teeth for Adults
While we recommend straightening your teeth as soon as possible, it is never too late to seek orthodontic treatment. Adult patients who never received orthodontic care in their youth can benefit from adult braces or orthodontic treatment. Patients with crooked teeth typically experience higher rates of oral health complications associated with their crooked teeth. Crooked teeth can:
- Lead to a TMJ disorder and chronic pain from the TMJ symptoms
- Make it difficult to clean teeth properly
- Increase your chances of getting tooth decay
- Cause overcrowding
- Cause malocclusion
- Make patients self-conscious of their smile
An adult patient with a traumatic loss of an upper front tooth, moderate gingival recessions, and crowding. Extraction of one lower incisor, bite correction, 20 months, implant, and restoration by his oral surgeon/dentist. This case was done preferably with ceramic braces, but could have been performed via Invisalign. Space management for the implant was critical to ensure equal-sized front incisors and perfect alignments of the lower anterior teeth without any gingival triangular space developments due to the gum recessions. Straight teeth do not necessarily mean perfect occlusions; ultimately, function matters!
Izadi Orthodontics can help adult patients choose an orthodontic treatment that can effectively correct their bite with minimal daily interference.
Adult patients experiencing orthodontic relapse can often benefit from clear braces such as Invisalign or other orthodontic appliances. The Invisalign clear aligner system is the perfect treatment for adults who want to straighten their teeth discreetly. Many of our older patients do not want the hassles and discomfort of traditional metal braces.
If a patient had braces as a child, it is common to experience a relapse later in life. Teeth can begin to shift, causing discomfort in the bite or dissatisfaction with the smile’s appearance.
Crooked Teeth FAQs
Do you have questions about crooked teeth and what treatments are available? Start here! Read through these answers to commonly asked questions about crooked teeth. Contact our orthodontic office during regular business hours if you have further questions or concerns.
Can crooked teeth cause problems?
Crooked teeth may cause bite and alignment problems. If your teeth are crooked, they may impact the spacing of your other teeth. When you have crowded teeth, they tend to overcrowd other areas. If crooked teeth are not corrected, this can progress, and teeth may begin to decay.
Are crooked teeth genetic?
Genetics play a big role in tooth alignment, however, they are not the only factor. If you have a genetic predisposition for crooked teeth, you should schedule regular dental visits to check your oral health and alignment.
Do crooked teeth get worse with age?
Patients with crooked teeth may experience bone decay and teeth shifting as they age. This is because, as you age, your teeth become less dense. The lack of density causes your jaw to shrink, resulting in tooth crowding.
Can crooked teeth affect speech?
Crooked teeth may impact speech. If their teeth are misaligned, some patients have trouble pronouncing specific sounds and letters, and some may also have a lisp. Orthodontic treatment can help align your smile and correct your speech.
Can crooked teeth cause headaches?
It’s not uncommon for people with crooked teeth to suffer from headaches due to misalignment. Misalignment of the jaw and tooth structure may cause migraine headaches.
What is the best age for braces?
If your child is between 9 and 14, they should start thinking about getting braces because this is the age at which teeth are most responsive to treatment. If you wait too long, after their jaws and teeth have adjusted to their post-puberty positions, shifting them will be more difficult.
Could untreated crooked teeth lead to problems with TMJ function years later?
Yes, untreated crooked teeth can lead to problems with TMJ later in life. When your teeth do not fit together correctly, it can cause extra stress on your jaw. Over time, this stress may lead to pain, trouble moving your jaw, or popping sounds. It’s a good idea to treat crooked teeth early to help keep your jaw healthy and avoid problems with your TMJ in the future.
Is there a higher risk of gum disease if you have one or two significantly crooked teeth?
Yes, you can have a higher risk of gum disease if you have one or two crooked teeth. When teeth are not lined up well, it can be harder to clean them. Food and germs may get stuck in tight or hard-to-reach spots, leading to red, swollen gums or gum disease. Brushing and flossing well and seeing your dentist often to help keep your gums healthy is vital.
Can crooked teeth indicate an underlying developmental issue requiring more than braces?
Crooked teeth can sometimes point to a bigger health issue than just needing orthodontic treatment. Problems with how the jaw grows or how the teeth fit together can be signs of problems with jaw bones or the airways. Signs like trouble chewing or talking will prompt Dr. Izadi to check for other health issues or growth problems before planning the proper treatment, not just braces.
Request an Orthodontic Consultation for Crooked Teeth in Timonium, MD
Are you looking for an orthodontist in Sparks, MD, Hunt Valley, MD, Cockeysville, MD, Mays Chapel, Lutherville, and surrounding communities? Our orthodontic team provides compassionate, thorough orthodontic services for children, teens, and adults. We welcome new patients from Reisterstown, Jacksonville, Sparks, and surrounding communities. Request an appointment for an orthodontic consultation online or contact our office at (410) 919-9806 today.