Everyone’s bite is a little different. That variation can be genetic, or it can be the result of bad habits, such as pushing on teeth with the tongue. No matter the cause, a misaligned bite can eventually lead to crooked smiles or more serious dental problems. The good news is that there are a variety of dental treatments available, and they can cover all types of misalignment.
What is malocclusion?
Malocclusion is the technical term that dentists use to discuss the whole category of abnormal tooth alignment. A few of the more common misaligned bite variations are:
* Crowded teeth: teeth may be touching, or pushed out of alignment by each other
* Excess spacing: gaps between teeth
* Overbite: where the upper jaw and teeth are extended over the bottom jaw and teeth
* Underbite: where bottom teeth extend past the upper teeth when jaw is closed
* Edge to edge bite: where the upper and lower front teeth touch precisely on edge
Having a Misaligned Bite Can Impact Health
There are many ways in which issues with bite can impact your life and health. For many of us, we noticed early on in life that our adult teeth were coming in crooked, and we ended up with braces. That can provide significant improvement to bite, but those improvements may not hold for the rest of your life. Many adults find that with our without childhood braces, their teeth have “shifted” later in life.
When teeth are out of alignment this can result in:
* Cold sensitivity and receding gums
* Difficulty cleaning teeth, flossing, as bacteria linger around misalignments
* Speech changes
* Jaw pain
* Chipped teeth, excess wear on enamel
* Smile embarrassment
Options for Adult Teeth Straightening
Your dentist will examine your teeth and review options to fix misaligned teeth. One of the most popular treatment systems today is Invisalign®. This is a clear, invisible liner that you place over teeth, which straightens and moves them. There are thousands of online reviews for this treatment system, and the overall sentiment we see is that “it’s worth it”.
The system works by giving you new liners every few weeks. Each new liner takes the straightening process to the next level, until the teeth are aligned. Remember having your braces tightened? Here is the new way it is done. These liners are removable, so you can brush your teeth. That was always such a chore with braces. The Invisalign® brand uses a specific process and material which has, according to their studies, been “clinically proven to achieve 75 percent more predictable tooth movement”*. To ensure a smooth and effective straightening process, your dentist will provide detailed information and instructions for proper use of the liners and dental hygiene.
Not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign®. Some patients may start with braces and switch over, or may have more challenging situations that require tooth extraction or other types of appliances.
Whitmore dental provides Invisalign® and other measures to align bite. If you have been unhappy with your smile, or suffering from a misaligned bite, contact us for an exam today.
*’vs over the counter single layer .30” options’. Source Align Technology Inc.
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