bjones
|
In the U.S., many dentists will tell you that crooked teeth are caused by the growth of our wisdom teeth squeezing the rest together. This is not true and if your dentist tells you this, you should seek another, more knowledgeable dentist. Studies have proven that people with wisdom teeth do not have higher rates of crooked teeth than people without wisdom teeth. Although most every dentist in the U.S. advises to have wisdom teeth removed whether they are impacted or not, knowledgeable dentists will admit that it is not necessarily to prevent crooked teeth.
The biggest factor in determining if someone’s teeth will be crooked or not is genetics. Genetics determines the size of your jaw and the size of your teeth and sometimes the two sizes just don’t match up. Some people with a small jaw size will have larger teeth. When the adult teeth grow in, there is simply not enough room to do so, so the teeth begin to overlap, twist, or otherwise shift and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. Other reasons also exist for having crooked teeth. Loss or removal of baby or adult teeth can cause the teeth already present to shift. A tooth may simply grow in at an angle and this tooth may push on the other teeth, crowding them. Misaligned dental appliances and restorations such as crowns and fillings can also cause teeth to become crooked. Injuries to the jaw and other health problems can cause crooked teeth also.
Crooked teeth are not only a cosmetic problem. Crooked teeth can cause a lot of other health-related problems as well such as difficult or painful chewing and speech impediments. Although little can be done to prevent crooked teeth, the good news is that once they become crooked, they can be fixed by modern dental procedures. A dentist will take a look at your teeth and have some x-rays done. The dentist may also make a plastic mold of the teeth to determine how to proceed. In most cases, braces can be used to bring teeth back into alignment. In very rare cases, surgery may be necessary.
 Posted 5183 day ago
|