Crowded or Crooked Teeth: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Crowded or crooked teeth are a type of malocclusion that occurs due to lack of space or small size of jawbone. Crooked teeth show aesthetic as well as functional abnormality of teeth. It is commonly seen in children of six years of age and disappears as the children grow. Some adults also have crooked teeth due to poor nutrition and small jawbones.

Crooked teeth are not only an aesthetic concern, but also a dental concern. Crooked teeth make it difficult to brush your teeth thoroughly, hard to keep your mouth healthy, difficult to control plaque accumulation, and difficulty in chewing.

Types of Teeth Crowding

There are three types of teeth crowding:

• Mild crooked teeth
• Moderate crooked teeth
• Severe crooked teeth

Causes of Crowded or Crooked Teeth

One of the main causes of crowded teeth is lack of space in the jawbone due to several factors. These factors could be:

Childhood habits

Childhood habits have a greater impact on dental health and overall well-being. Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting at an early age or during the teeth development period results in crooked or misaligned teeth.

Dental issues

Dental issues like accidental dental trauma and jaw deformity can interfere with facial development leading to crooked or crowded teeth. Extra teeth in a normal jawbone can also cause crowding of teeth.

Age-related changes

Age-related changes cause shrinkage of jawbone leading to drifting of anterior teeth. It is commonly seen in females of older age.

Genetics

There’s a familial predisposition for malocclusion, characterized by misaligned or crooked teeth. Genetics can strongly influence the shape of teeth and the size of jawbone.

Effects of Crowded or Crooked Teeth

• Compromised aesthetics
• Poor oral health
• Speech difficulties
• Risk of tartar build-up
• Risk of tooth decay
• Abnormal bite
• Gum inflammation

Diagnosis and Treatment

The dentists make diagnoses by physical examination and with the help of X-rays. Physical examination helps to determine the bite relation of crowded upper or bottom teeth in the jaw. While X-rays help to identify bone deformity. Treatment will start once the dentist makes a final diagnosis.

Orthodontic options

The treatment of crooked teeth depends on the severity and type of malocclusion. Orthodontic treatment options to fix crooked teeth are:

• Braces treatment: This is a traditional orthodontic treatment comprised of brackets (metal or ceramic) and wire. Brackets are glued to teeth surface and connect with wire to treat misaligned teeth.
• Aligner treatment: This is an invisible clear aligners treatment. These aligners move teeth gradually in their desired position.
• Surgery: In some cases, dentists or orthodontists perform surgery to correct jaw irregularities.

Other dental procedures to treat minor malalignment of teeth are:

• Dental crowns and bridges: When a person has minor dental irregularities in the upper or lower jaw or any segment of the jaw, then dental crowns or bridges are placed in the desired position.
• Veneers: Anterior dental irregularities can be fixed by veneers. Minor abrasion of natural teeth is performed to camouflage the teeth in an ideal appearance.
• Dental implants: Dental implants are placed in case of congenitally missing teeth to remove natural spaces.

Prevention and Maintenance

Crowding or crooked teeth due to genetic influence cannot be prevented. While misalignment due to environmental factors like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can be prevented by discouraging children.

Oral hygiene practices:

Good oral hygiene during or after orthodontic treatment is necessary. Plaque or tartar can contribute to tooth movements or teeth spaces.

Regular dental check-ups:

Regular dental check-ups can help dentists look for the changes that might occur after treatment. Teeth tend to return to their original position if the patient is reluctant to wear retainers for a certain period.

Dietary considerations:

The dentists advise a soft diet during or after orthodontic treatment. A hard or crunchy diet puts more pressure on the jawbone and can increase the chances of relapse.

Impact on Overall Health

It is more difficult to thoroughly clean crowded, crooked, or misaligned teeth. Periodontal disease and tooth decay can be caused by poor hygiene. Periodontitis can result from gum disease if crowding of teeth is not resolved. Sometimes crooked teeth may indicate a problem of obstructive sleep apnea.

Relationship with systemic diseases

Crooked teeth are a common problem in all age groups. Crooked teeth not only impact dental health but also impair the overall well-being of a person. Crooked or misaligned teeth can cause digestive issues. Digestive discomfort and bloating issues can occur due to improper breakdown of food in the mouth.

Mental health aspects

The most common effect seen in individuals with crooked teeth is low self-esteem. A perfect smile can enhance the physical appearance of a person. It has been proved by studies that individuals with crooked teeth frequently lack confidence and have poor self-esteem.