Crowded teeth (also known as crowded dentition) is the result of a lack of room in the jaws to accommodate the teeth․ Crowded teeth can be stacked on top of each other‚ rotated‚ or shifted to one side․ This can affect the way your smile looks and the health of your teeth and gums․
Crowding can occur when your teeth are crowded together or appear pushed in or out․ This can happen slowly over time or become noticeable when your permanent teeth start appearing during your teenage years․ Crowding can be due to an overall mismatch in size between teeth and the space available in the jaw․ A smaller jaw may not have adequate room for the teeth‚ and the teeth will “compete” for space․
Mild crowding is where two or more teeth overlap slightly․ In this case‚ the crowding may not be of immediate concern for the patient, but even fairly mild crowding may make it more difficult to clean between teeth․ The more the teeth are crowded‚ the more plaque can build up‚ increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease․
One of the most common complaints is that crowded teeth make brushing and flossing more difficult․ If teeth overlap or are closely spaced‚ it may be difficult or impossible for a toothbrush or floss to clean the sides of teeth properly․ Bacteria can build up in these areas‚ which can create cavities or gum disease․ If these common conditions are left untreated for years‚ other dental problems that may need corrective measures can develop․
Crowding can disrupt your bite‚ meaning that when your mouth is closed‚ your bite may not fit together properly because your teeth don’t line up․ When the lower and upper teeth do not meet evenly‚ some teeth take more force than others‚ leading to increased wear or chipping of the teeth‚ jaw pain‚ and tension in the muscles․
A number of different factors are involved in the development of dental crowding․ Probably the most important of these is genetics‚ as jaw and tooth sizes are determined at least in part by hereditary factors․ Other causative factors that can lead to tooth crowding include premature or late loss of teeth‚ thumb sucking‚ and other oral habits in the early years of life․
Orthodontics is also often used to treat crowded teeth․ Braces or clear aligner trays are used to slowly reposition them over time․ In orthodontic treatment‚ the goal of braces is to create enough space for all the teeth to be as close to ideal‚ both functionally and aesthetically‚ as possible․ Your dentist may also pull a tooth‚ depending on how crowded your mouth is․
Although this can be treated at any age‚ addressing it sooner is helpful as this allows crowding to be dealt with before other complications arise․ It is possible to have treatment as an adult to improve realignment and to encourage long-term health of the teeth․
If you have more questions about crowded teeth or how they could affect your dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if addressing your crowded teeth is the best treatment plan for you.
Related Article: What Causes Crowding Teeth?