Teeth not straight? You’re not the only one.
It’s a common issue for people of all ages and there are varying degrees of crooked teeth. In some cases, the horizontal line of teeth is very up and down in a zig zag pattern across the bite.
There are varying degrees of crooked teeth and many times, the extent of crookedness may not require any dental intervention. If however you are finding your dental health or speech is affected by having crooked teeth we recommend you make an appointment with Hawthorn East Dental to review your oral health.
Teeth Not Coming Down
If you have an uneven bite where either your teeth have not come down properly or one is stuck in the gum and unable to erupt then there are a number of considerations. The location of the tooth relative to the bone and gum will play a part in determining the best dental solution. The overall layout of teeth including jawline structure and bite are part of the assessment.
We will evaluate the extent of your teeth not being straight and can compare it to a normal range to find out if dental intervention is necessary.
Teeth Crooked Vertically
It is also a shared problem that teeth can come down sticking out forward (Buck teeth) or back, out of line on a vertical level. The common solution to this is braces.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Teeth can erupt through the gums not straight or they may become crooked based on such things as sucking a thumb or pacifier from a young age / baby.
Overcrowding can cause some teeth to be pushed out of position or if you are missing teeth, the surrounding teeth have room to spread out and sometimes, out of line. The size of the jaw can also impact the ability of the teeth to come down in line.
Genetics can also be the culprit of teeth that aren’t straight.
What are the Treatment Options for Teeth Not Straight?
One of the obvious dental options for crooked teeth, as mentioned earlier, is braces. Depending on the extent of how crooked your teeth are, the timeframes will vary along with the type of braces recommended.
There are various brace options available and this is best discussed after a dental assessment to discuss your dental history, oral health and the extent of the issue and correction. Often, dental X-Rays will be required so your dentist is provided with a thorough analysis of your mouth and teeth.
Surgery may be required for jaw line changes to support healthy teeth alignment and bite but until one of our friendly dentists provides a consultation, we are unable to fully advise.
Braces do require a large financial investment and we recommend you check with your private health insurer to find out if you are provided any cover.
If you are unhappy with the alignment of your teeth, please call us and arrange an appointment with one of our qualified dentists at Hawthorn East Dental and we will be glad to provide you with the right advice for your situation.
