Crooked or twisted teeth are teeth that are not properly aligned and appear to be unaesthetic. This condition often causes people to be embarrassed about their smile, affecting their social confidence.
Crooked teeth are usually caused by lack of space in the jaws. In some circumstances, the jaws are simply too underdeveloped and are unable to host all the teeth, resulting in poor alignments. In other cases, gum diseases cause teeth to drift in unwanted directions, causing them to appear long, gappy or twisted. Sometimes extra teeth, such as supernumerary teeth and retained baby teeth, can also result in dental crowding.
Orthodontics:
For growing children, a removable orthodontic plate can be used to develop and expand the jaws so there is enough room for all teeth to fit in.
For older children and adults, dental extractions may be necessary to create spaces for teeth alignment as part of orthodontic treatment. Traditional braces and Invisalign are routinely used to improve alignments of crooked teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry:
If the misalignment’s are minor in nature and only affect the front teeth, dental veneers may be considered as an alternative to orthodontics.
While largely seen as a cosmetic problem, crooked teeth, in fact, can have a significantly negative impact on the overall state of your oral health. It can potentially create a number of dental problems:
