An orthodontist can fix whatever misalignment is happening in a patient’s mouth. For the patient with gapped teeth, though, their orthodontic journey will be a little simpler than for the patient with crowded teeth. In short, it is easier to close spaces in your mouth than to gain them.
Correcting Crowded Teeth
It’s important for parents to take their kids to see an orthodontist by age 8. While this may seem like one more dental visit to add to an already busy schedule, it’s important. Children who have severely crowded teeth can begin treatment early and potentially avoid more in-depth orthodontics when they’re teenagers.
A palatal expander is one appliance that is regularly used to create space in a mouth too small for all its teeth. With an expander in place, pushing the palate apart to make room, the crowding of erupting teeth can be avoided.
When teeth are on the opposite end of the spectrum and have an excessive amount of space between them, this occurs because of unusually small teeth, abnormal gum tissue, protruding teeth, or impacted teeth. For kids with crowded teeth or spaced out teeth, self-consciousness is a common side effect.
Causes of Crowded Teeth
Crowded teeth occur when there is an anatomical abnormality in the jaw structure or differences between the upper and lower jaw during growth. There isn’t much you can do to predict DNA, but you do have the help of an expert orthodontist to get teeth moving in the right direction.
If there is any inconsistency between the length or width of the jaw that causes an imbalance, the jaw can be repositioned so the bones and teeth align correctly as your child grows. Addressing problems like this in childhood can prevent major jaw issues later and avoid orthognathic surgery.
The Logistics of Crowded Teeth
If there isn’t enough space in the mouth for all your child’s teeth, they will find a way to accommodate themselves and come in crooked, twisted, or slanted. They may grow behind, in front of, or above an adjacent tooth. If there really is no space for a tooth to enter the mouth, they may become impacted and not erupt at all. This is a serious problem, not only because it causes pain, but because damage can occur to the roots of nearby teeth and interfere with the draining of the sinus cavities.
We only get one set of permanent teeth – your orthodontist does not want to pull a permanent tooth because it has become impacted. Better to have an orthodontist guiding these teeth into their proper positions from the start so straightening them up permanently later is easier.
Besides being unsightly, crowded teeth are incredibly difficult to clean properly, which means kids with this problem are at a higher risk of tooth decay and even periodontal disease. Crowded teeth can also cause teeth grinding because they interfere with a normal bite, which can lead to fractured teeth, enamel erosion, and TMJ pain.
Orthodontist Near Me in Woodinville, WA
If your child has crowded or large spaces between their teeth, schedule a consultation with Dr. Soleil at Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville, WA. There is always an orthodontic treatment to correct what’s happening and create a beautiful, aligned smile.