Crooked teeth
It’s very common for people to have crooked teeth, but at what point does crookedness become a problem?
Depending on the severity of a person’s crooked teeth, they could encounter problems ranging from self esteem issues through to tooth decay, speech impediments and more. But, dentists have been treating crooked teeth for generations and know exactly what to do.
What does crooked teeth mean?
Crooked teeth is another term for a dental ‘misalignment’, which is when a person’s teeth grow in an abnormal way – perhaps they come out at a steep angle, rotated, leaning towards other teeth, and so on.
Misalignment can also include crowded teeth. Crowding happens when teeth come out at a different angle or in an unusual place because there isn’t enough space for them in the jaw. This could be genetic, or because of developmental problems from childhood – we’ll talk more about that below.
Are crooked baby teeth a concern?
It’s quite normal for a child’s milk teeth to come through crooked, so it’s not by itself a problem.
However, misaligned baby teeth can become a problem if it starts to cause other symptoms. For example, if the misalignment is particularly severe, if there are teeth missing, if there are too many teeth (known as hypodontia), or if their teeth are becoming quite overcrowded, this may cause future problems.
Baby teeth exist to help adult teeth grow into the right place. So, major problems in a child’s mouth may mean that their adult teeth grow incorrectly. That said, minor misalignment may have no impact at all.
Learn more: “My baby’s teeth are coming in crooked: What should I do?”
Symptoms of crooked adult teeth
Overbite or underbite
Chewing and digestion problems
Excess wear and tear on teeth
Speech difficulties, lisping
Jaw pain and headaches
Plaque build-up, causing gum disease
Self image/esteem issue
What causes crooked teeth?
Crooked permanent teeth can be caused by a few factors. Commonly it is genetic – a predisposition towards either baby teeth coming in very crooked (so the adult teeth that follow erupt in the wrong spot), adult teeth growing incorrectly, or problems with jaw size.
Certain habits, particularly in childhood, may also lead to misaligned adult teeth. Thumb sucking and using a pacifier for too long as a child can lead to conditions such as an open bite; tongue thrusting (pressing your tongue against your teeth when you swallow, as opposed to the roof of your mouth) can also move teeth into the wrong place over time. Even long-term mouth breathing can have an impact.
Beyond these myofunctional habits and hereditary conditions, injuries and poor oral health care are the next two common causes of crooked teeth.
Why straighten crooked teeth?
The symptoms of crooked teeth that we mentioned earlier can have lasting, damaging effects on a person’s oral health. While minor misalignment is not usually cause for concern, any major misalignment that leads to those symptoms may need to be dealt with.
One of the major benefits of having straighter teeth is that they are easier to clean. This can help a person prevent the build-up of bacteria in their mouth that eventually leads to tooth decay and gum disease – both of which can irreparably damage teeth, leading to further complications.
Straighter teeth are also easier to chew and speak with, which could have a positive impact on digestion and self esteem.
How to treat crooked teeth
If you believe that your teeth require straightening, or you have been informed by a dentist that it would be best, chances are a trip to the orthodontist is on the cards for you.
An orthodontist is a type of dentist who is qualified to diagnose and treat jaw and teeth misalignments. One of their most common recommendations for treatment is braces – whether metal, ceramic, invisible (known as Invisalign), and so on. Braces work by putting slight pressure on teeth over time, slowly moving their position. It works well, but takes a long time.
For slight adjustments, some people just need a retainer. Or, for major adjustments, your orthodontist may recommend some jaw surgery.
At Kowhai Dental, we prefer to use the innovative Fastbraces®. Fastbraces® work with brackets and wires similar to regular braces, but adjust teeth differently than this older method. Typically, Fastbraces® can adjust teeth in about half the time of regular braces!
Learn more: Orthodontics at Kowhai Dental
How to prepare for a trip to the orthodontist
At the orthodontist, you’re likely going to be asked a few questions. This will help us understand you better, determine how you feel about the shape of your teeth, and find out what you hope to achieve (if you have this idea in mind). So, before you arrive, consider these questions:
Are you feeling any jaw pain, or irritation in your gums and cheeks?
Are there any parts of your mouth you find particularly hard to clean or floss?
Have you been having trouble chewing or speaking?
Are you feeling unhappy or self conscious about your teeth?
In the dentist’s chair, we will need to go over your medical and dental history to best understand your mouth. From there, we can perform a visual examination, take some x-rays, and talk to you about a treatment plan. It’s likely that if you need any treatment, we will suggest getting a cleaning and scaling first.
Got questions
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If your teeth are only minorly crooked, you may be able to use a retainer. This would be a wire-based treatment device that you can wear while you sleep, but which you can remove during the day or to eat and clean.
There are a number of websites out there that promote home-based alternatives to braces for more crooked teeth. These include rubber bands, self-made equipment, or even borrowed equipment.
It is highly recommended that you avoid these.
Treating crooked teeth is a complex and sensitive procedure. Doing it yourself may lead to permanent damage, which would then require more surgery at likely a higher cost.
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Yes, crooked teeth are often genetic. It is common for parents to pass misalignment issues or irregularities with jaw shape on to their children. If this occurs, the child may experience similar issues to their parent(s).
That said, misalignment can be caused by a variety of other issues, so genetics is not the only concern.
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To a degree.
If the condition is genetic, it’s likely that no matter what you do your teeth may try to come in misaligned. That said, if you know it’s going to happen you could mention this to your or your child’s dentist and they can suggest some early preventative treatment options to help the problem before it gets worse.
For non-genetic crooked teeth, there are a few things you can do to help. These include:
— Weaning your child off thumb-sucking and the use of a pacifier around the time they turn 1 year old, or relatively soon after.
— Keeping up good oral health habits.
— Avoiding injury to the face, and taking precautions while playing sports.
Learn more: “What to do when your baby gets teeth: A complete guide”
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Crooked teeth by itself is not a condition which typically leads to teeth falling out. That said, it can lead to problems such as decay and gum disease which themselves can lead to loose teeth.
Learn more: “Loose teeth”
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The cost of braces in New Zealand is very much dependent on the orthodontist and their expertise. On average, the price will frequently start at around $3,500-$4,500 for a year of treatment. However, prices can go as high as the $8,000-$9,000 mark, depending on treatment requirements.
Here at Kowhai Dental, our Fastbraces® treatment starts at $3,973, and could range up to $6,250.
Check out our prices.
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We understand that it can be difficult to imagine affording such a treatment cost, especially if you’re on a budget.
Luckily, there are a few different ways to get help:
— Look for finance options. It’s common for dentists, and we offer it here at Kowhai too, to offer payment plans and special deals. See our payment options here.
— Check if your insurance covers it. Got medical insurance? See if you can get orthodontics under your cover – see below.
— Get help. In New Zealand there are a few ways to get help from the government and other bodies.
Learn more about payment help.
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This very much depends on the provider, but yes there are a number of health insurance companies in New Zealand which offer orthodontics as an option.
Typically, dental insurance will cover examinations, basic procedures such as cleaning, fillings or extraction (and their associated x-rays), and a few more serious procedures like orthodontics and root canals.
The cost of dental insurance in NZ can range from around $350 to $600 a year.