Crowded situations are generally to be avoided. Crowded movie theaters: Too noisy. Crowded restaurants: Slow service. Crowded planes: Ugh. Same thing goes for crowded teeth, as our orthodontist at Ortho Inc. can attest. And it’s not just about appearances. A crowded mouth can lead to a range of oral health problems, as we shall explain.
A lack of sufficient space for our teeth can be the result of inadequate jaw space or teeth that are on the large size. What happens in a crowding situation is that teeth can become overlapped, rotated, and/or crooked. Teeth that are not properly spaced are more difficult to brush and floss, which can result in tooth decay and gum disease. Crowded teeth can wear more quickly and unevenly than they should and perhaps even get chipped.
How do you know if your teeth are too crowded? You may notice they are overlapping or appear to be set at an angle instead of straight. Other symptoms are grinding or difficulty when chewing, jaw pain, biting your tongue or the inside of your cheek, and trouble guiding floss between your teeth.
As with many conditions, crowding will not resolve on its own and will get worse as you age. So, what can our orthodontist do to give those pearly whites more room to do their jobs? Although each person’s case is different and requires a thorough examination before arriving at a treatment plan, braces — either metal or ceramic — are generally the preferred solution for moderately to severely crowded teeth because of their ability to exert the necessary amount of pressure to create space. Clear aligners may be useful if the crowding is mild to moderate.
If you want to break away from the crowd and find a more comfortable space, please contact our orthodontist at Ortho Inc.. The improvements to the way you look and feel will make you stand out from the crowd in all the best ways!
