How to Fix Crooked Teeth

How Crooked Teeth Form

Crooked teeth are typically a result of pressure, spacing, and anatomical factors during tooth development and eruption.

Some of the most common causes of crooked teeth include:

• Premature tooth loss
• Pressure from wisdom teeth
• Tongue thrusting
• Extended bottle-feeding or use of a training cup
• Thumb and finger sucking
• Small jaw anatomy
• Genetics

Crowded teeth can form when there’s a lack of space. Perhaps the jaws are more narrow or small than what the tooth size requires. It can also be caused by pressure that’s applied from atypical swallowing patterns or sucking habits. Understanding the causes of crooked teeth is the first step in preventing them to begin with.

How to Prevent Crowded Teeth

Fortunately, we can pre-screen for crooked teeth during early oral development. Around age 7, X-rays will show us the position and alignment of tooth development in their adult dentition (set of teeth.) From there, we can create a strategy to limit or prevent crowding and crooked teeth through early interceptive techniques.

Since pressure from our oral tissues — like our lips, cheeks, and tongue — can nudge tooth eruption patterns, it’s important to pinpoint oral habits that contribute to crooked teeth. Especially factors like thumb and finger sucking.

If your child has tooth decay in a primary (baby) tooth, work with your dentist to restore and preserve the tooth as long as possible. If the tooth needs to be extracted, come to our Barrhaven orthodontist to discuss a space maintainer. This temporary appliance will help prevent tooth impaction and allow adequate room for the underlying adult tooth to erupt without obstruction.

When we know a particular child is at-risk for crowding or crooked teeth, interceptive orthodontics or growth modification can be extremely helpful. As we guide your child’s oral development patterns toward a healthier direction, we can significantly limit the extent of orthodontic problems they would otherwise see in the future.

How to Straighten Crooked Teeth

The only way to straighten crooked teeth is to use some type of orthognathic or orthodontic system. One is designed to guide teeth in and correct growth patterns during childhood (while their bite is developing) and the other is to correct tooth
placement and alignment.

Teeth are straightened by applying slight amounts of pressure at certain points throughout your smile. As each tooth is nudged into the desired position, we see gradual bone remodelling around the root as the tooth is moved through the jaw. Orthodontics is just as much about the bone surrounding your teeth as it is the visible part of your tooth above the gum tissues.

Tooth movement should only be overseen by a licensed dental professional. Orthodontists are experts when it comes to straightening teeth, with an additional 2-3 years of formal training after four years of dental school. Their expertise allows you to safely undergo planned tooth movement with braces or oral appliances, without unnecessary added risks.

Both removable aligners and fixed braces systems can predictably straighten out crooked teeth. But it’s up to you to work with our orthodontist to choose the method that’s best for your unique needs.

What Is the Fastest Way to Fix Crooked Teeth?

For the fastest, safest way to align crooked teeth, you need to work with a licensed Ottawa orthodontist. As a specialist, an orthodontist will help you pinpoint the best type of braces or alignment system for your smile’s anatomy.

Depending on how your teeth and jaws fit together, some people can get by with a cosmetic, accelerated braces option that only straightens their front teeth. Unfortunately, that’s not always the best option. Usually, it’s ideal to address your bite as a whole, moving teeth in phases until overall alignment is achieved from one side to the other.

Thankfully, today’s modern orthodontic systems can straighten your teeth efficiently and predictably. You may only need braces for about 12 months or so. Our Barrhaven orthodontist can provide you with an estimated timeline during your consultation so that you know how long to expect your treatment to take before it’s even started.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix Crooked Teeth?

The cost of braces in Barrhaven depends on several factors, including the type of braces that you choose. If you have significantly crowded teeth, treatment times can take longer, which in turn affects your overall financial investment. Between the length of your treatment and the amount of health coverage you have, prices can vary by a thousand dollars or more.

CLICK HERE to read more about the average price of each different type of braces in Ottawa, so that you know what to expect before you give our office a call. You might be surprised to learn that popular cosmetic options are more affordable than you realised.

You Deserve Straighter Teeth

The emotional toll of crowded teeth shouldn’t be overlooked. If you’re embarrassed about the way your smile looks, it can significantly impact your quality of life. Refraining from social interactions, smiling around other people, or even laughing around your loved ones can affect everything from your self-esteem to your relationships.

Are overcrowded teeth standing between you and the smile you deserve? Contact Braces Haven in Barrhaven today to reserve a consultation with our licensed orthodontist.