During teeth eruption, just when teeth are making their way out of your gum line, adjust into whatever spot they find vacant. But aren’t they supposed to erupt in a line? This happens when a jaw is too small to accommodate an array of teeth. Teeth crowding can happen in both the upper and lower jaw. No dental issues come empty-handed; they have a domino effect. One issue gives rise to another.
Non- Extraction Orthodontics
When it comes to orthodontic treatments, the biggest concern that comes to mind is, will they remove my teeth? How are they going to put them in place? Orthodontists extend the dental arch to provide room for your teeth through permanent alteration of the jaw bone. If you aim to have a straight smile without losing your natural teeth, non-extraction orthodontics is what you should go for.
Fixing Overcrowded Teeth in Adults
Overcrowding happens due to underdevelopment of the jaw. When the jaw is too small to accommodate the whole set of teeth you have. To correct such an issue, your choice is limited to two methods.
- Extraction: pull out excessive teeth to align the whole set.
- Non-extraction: Extend the dental arch to the point it accommodates your teeth.
Non-extraction offers some benefits, that’s why it’s more popular than extraction. Some of its advantages are:
- Non-extraction method ensures that you wear braces for a shorter time as your teeth won’t have to move to reduce the spaces due to pulled-out teeth.
- There are some possible risks associated with extraction methods, like gum recession and bone erosion. The non-extraction technique helps you avoid these risks.
- Non-extraction treatment is executed with little to no pain due to the absence of invasive surgery.
Treatment for Crowded Teeth
Various crowded teeth issues can be fixed without extraction by expanding the dental arch. It works with the help of:
- Aligners
- Retainers
- Braces
- Appliances
- Dental fillings
Let’s discuss some of them in detail:
1. Clear Aligners
Clear aligners look like mouthguards, crafted with plastic and transparent-looking. They are custom-tailored, contain a series of 18-30 multiple aligners, and require replacement every two weeks. Wearing them trains the teeth into the required places without using any hardware. If used properly, these aligners are efficient in battling mild overcrowding cases.
2. Traditional Braces
Metal braces have been a great help in achieving a straight smile. As the connected metal wires are tightened, they cause the right amount of strain on teeth. It gently directs teeth into alignment. Braces work only when the teeth are crowded due to unusual angles because of inadequate growth. Thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or pacifier use. Traditional braces have a limited amount of efficiency. In certain complicated cases, excessive teeth must be extracted so the braces can perform their job.
Wrapping Up
Crowded teeth affect your physical appearance and cause heaps of trouble to your dental health. Luckily, invasive surgical procedures are not the only options you have. You can seek refuge in non-extraction orthodontics.
Dr. Felix at Whole Health Dental Center also believes in non-invasive treatments. He has proved that correcting impaired mouth can resolve numerous issues reluctant to standard treatment. Call us at (703) 385-6425 for effective and painless dental treatments.