Malocclusion or dental crowding is a condition more commonly referred to as crooked teeth. It refers to irregular and compact growth of teeth that leads to both cosmetic problems and impairment in various oral function. 9 out of every 10 adults suffer from crooked teeth to a certain extent. In most cases, if not all, the condition doesn’t go away on its own.
In this article we’ll discuss all the possible causes for crooked teeth, their side effects, and how you can correct them.
Crooked teeth meaning
Dental crowding, or malocclusion, is the medical name for crowded teeth. It refers to a state where the teeth cannot fit into the jaw and as a result, become overcrowded. So, by definition, it is when permanent teeth have no room to grow, so they twist and move around to make use of the available space in the mouth. This, in turn, affects the overall alignment of your teeth. Depending on your jaw size, size of your teeth, and genetics, the extent of malocclusion will vary.
What causes crooked teeth
Crooked teeth can be the result of many factors, but the most common include the following.
1- Having a small jaw
Some people are born with small jaws, in fact, evolutionists predict that jaw sizes will degrees in the coming generation. According to evolution, humans have evolved to develop smaller jaws. Partly due to the differences in diets and our consumption of softer foods compared to our ancestors. As a result, our jaws have become significantly smaller whereas our teeth have remained the same size and number. This contrast leads to the development of crooked teeth where your teeth to crowd over one another due to the limited space.
2- Extremely large teeth
Other times, and despite having a normal-sized jaw, you can still develop crooked teeth. This would be due to having large teeth that take up more space than needed eventually crowding your teeth.
3- Bad habits
Teeth are supported by a tissue layer underneath the gums that is very sensitive to pressure. Habits such as finger suckling impose consistent pressure on the mouth and teeth respond to this pressure by swaying out of order leading to crooked teeth.
4- Cavities especially in early childhood
Children who consume sugars and practice poor dental hygiene are at a higher risk for crooked teeth. This is because the consequences of cavities on the child’s dental development are typically severe. Since milk teeth are in a way there to “reserve” a place for permanent teeth and guide their growth, they are important for dental alignment. When milk teeth are impacted through inflammation and cavities, this alignment shifts, and permanent teeth come in a disorderly manner.
Side effects of crooked teeth
Crooked teeth interfere with your oral functions and cause several problems from health to hygiene. These include
1- Difficulty brushing and flossing
Crowded teeth can make it difficult to brush and floss your teeth because your teeth would be all over one another. This makes it to get in between the teeth causing tartar and plaque buildup leading to gum disease and cavities and even tooth loss.
2- Digestive issues
Crowded teeth don’t function effectively due to the absence of proper order. This can lead to digestive problems as a result of poor food chewing. It can be uncomfortable and a major source of inconvenience to some.
3- Speech issues
This varies depending on the severity of overcrowding but in general, the condition can interrupt your pronunciation fostering speech problems.
4- Poor Self Esteem
People with crooked teeth tend to generally have self-image problems. Which is a natural reaction to the impact crooked teeth have on first impressions. Several studies show that people with perfectly aligned teeth appear more desirable to their peers.
How to fix crooked teeth
Crooked teeth can be treated through orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry with the Hollywood Smile procedure. Orthodontics is a dental practice that focuses on aligning teeth into perfect order without using surgery.
Removable braces
Removable braces are a very common type of braces as of late. The most known brand of removable braces is Invisalign which gives you the ability to remove your transparent trays for 4 hours a day. You can distribute these 4 hours throughout the day between eating or cleaning your mouth.
Fixed braces
Fixed braces are the traditional type, although there’s been a lot of advancements. Meaning you can opt for fixed braces without the metal look if you like.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are your typical metal braces that go behind your teeth. So, you don’t have to deal with their chunky appearance influencing your smile. They’re also very hard to spot, and several celebrities have opted for them for this reason.
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces are similar to traditional braces. But they are color-matched to your teeth and hence don’t show clearly. This option is also among the popular options celebrities have opted for in the past and still do. For instance, former 1 Direction boy band star Nial Horan had rocked on ceramic braces in the early days of his career.
Hollywood smile
The Hollywood Smile has become a household name by now. The procedure corrects all cosmetics-related dental problems at once giving you a natural-looking perfect smile. While the procedure can correct crooked teeth, it can’t correct a severe malocclusion. In which case you must opt for orthodontics beforehand.
Celebrities with crooked teeth
1- Emma Watson
Harry Potter star Emma Watson grew up on-screen gaining international recognition. That star reportedly had braces that she wore in between shooting for the films.
2- Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani proudly wore traditional metal braces adding no mystery to her smile transformation. The star is perhaps the first A-Lister to attend the red carpet without attempting to hide her smile.
3- Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber is another celebrity who grew up on-screen making it easier for us to track his smile transformation. In the early days of his career, Justin Bieber is barely seen wearing the Invisalign. Zooming into his pictures from that era, there are instances where his Invisalign catches the eyes.
Click the link for more celebrity smile transformations
Contact Us
If you want modern and cost-efficient solutions for your crooked smile, contact our team at Dentakay. We’re based in Istanbul, Turkey, and offer luxurious services that help health tourists feel at ease.
