Hello, this is Dr. Virginia Ellis here at Virginia Ellis DDS Dental Corp. Today I'm going to be talking about crowded teeth. A lot of people are asking me about crowded teeth, so we're going to explain more about this topic.
What causes crowded teeth, and how does it affect my oral health?
Basically, if you have crowded teeth, they're harder to clean. They predispose you to gum disease, and you run a higher risk of losing your teeth. Also, because they're harder to clean, you have a higher chance of getting cavities. You're more cavity-prone, more gum disease-prone. Crooked teeth are generally unhealthier because they're harder to clean, if that makes sense.
What is the difference between mild, moderate, and severe crowding?
Mild crowding involves maybe one or two teeth slightly rotated. Moderate is a few teeth that are misaligned or crowded. Severe crowding is when your whole mouth is affected, with all the teeth misaligned and crooked.
What are treatment options for fixing crowded teeth?
Well, I'm sure everyone knows about braces. There are different types of braces called brackets, traditional wire brackets. You can have clear ones, metal ones, and there's something else called clear aligners. This is not a clear aligner; it's a night guard, but they look very similar. If this is your mouth, you just put them on. There's another video I have with one of my assistants that actually shows what it is, so you can look for that. You just put them on and off, change trays every couple of weeks, and wear the trays most of the day, only taking them off to eat. Most of the time, those aligner trays, the clear trays that are not as visible as the metal brackets, are for simpler cases. I'll go into that somewhere.
Can Invisalign fix crowded teeth or is traditional orthodontic treatment better?
Traditional orthodontic treatment involves the brackets I showed you, while clear aligners are these guys here. Usually, the clear aligner, like Invisalign, is more for mild or moderate cases. If you have something complex or harder to predict, then metal brackets or ceramic brackets are a better choice. For more complex cases and predictability in treatment, metal brackets are better; for milder cases, clear aligners are better, if that’s what you want.
How does dental crowding impact a person's bite and overall alignment?
Crowded teeth can affect your bite and alignment by altering your looks, your ability to speak, and your ability to clean your teeth. If your teeth are crowded, your ability to pronounce certain words can be affected, as can the way you eat. It also affects how you clean your teeth properly. Additionally, it impacts your appearance, as having a misaligned jaw and crooked or crowded teeth can change the way you look and can also change your airway space. This affects how you sleep, potentially requiring you to breathe through your nose or become a mouth breather. Over time, this can change your appearance due to overworked muscles, altering jaw shape and facial appearance.
What should patients expect before and after crowded teeth treatment?
What should you expect if you have braces? Before you go in, it’s a financial commitment. You have to bear the length of treatment and not remove them too soon, as you’ll be stuck with the results. You’ll need more frequent cleanings, typically every three months for someone in braces or aligners. As you progress with the treatment, especially with aligners, sometimes the teeth get loose because they need to be loose to move. People often get scared, thinking their teeth are too loose, but it’s normal. With brackets, you don't feel the looseness because they’re tied together and move as a unit. When you’re done with treatment, be prepared for a change in appearance, especially if you're an adult. As an adult, your physical appearance doesn't change as much as a teenager’s. I had braces and remember feeling like I looked so different when they were removed. It’s a psychological adjustment. You don't experience this as much with clear aligners, as you gradually see changes. With brackets, it’s like pulling back a curtain to see the final result.
Are there specific challenges to treating lower teeth crowding?
There are challenges because the bone level and thickness of the gums are often smaller and thinner for lower teeth. When straightening teeth, especially for adults, you may need to see a gum specialist or periodontist to correct or add bone width or gum level, or address root coverage, as the gum line can recede or drop back. It's something to consider. Repositioning teeth can also create dark triangles, which is more common among adults.
What happens if crowded teeth are left untreated?
As I mentioned before, they're harder to clean, leading to a higher likelihood of cavities and gum disease, which can result in tooth loss. It also affects how you chew, speak, and look, impacting your self-esteem and quality of life.
If you liked this video and found it helpful, remember to like and subscribe to the channel. I will see you in the next video. Any more questions? Virginia Ellis DDS Dental Corp. Look us up at www.orindadentist.com/ or call the office at 925-254-4043. All right. Bye-bye.