Malocclusion is a misalignment teeth problem that may cause serious oral health complications. It is also known as crossbite, crowded teeth, overbite, open bite and underbite. Your teeth will not be able to perform its functions when they are crooked, damaged or uneven in shape and size. If you suffer from misaligned teeth, it can be fixed with braces or orthodontic treatment.

Some causes of uneven teeth include:

Irregular shaped teeth
Misaligned or misshapen jaw
Cleft lip and palate
Continuous use of feeding bottle for children
Thumb sucking or tongue thrusting in childhood
Breathing through mouth during childhood
Injuries that may occur due to jaw misalignment
Inappropriate dental restorative procedure in childhood
Gingivitis or gum disease
Early loss of milk teeth

The need to fix teeth misalignment

Some physiological or physical problem may lead to uneven teeth which can:

Lead to self-consciousness and poor confidence
Affect the speech of a person and may cause a lisp
Hinder with chewing of food properly
Difficulty with proper brushing and flossing
Increasing the risk associated with bacterial infection, gingivitis and tooth decay

How to treat malocclusion of the teeth

People with mild malocclusion of the teeth do not need to undergo any treatment. However, your dental practitioner may suggest you to consult an orthodontist in case he finds your malocclusion is severe. Your orthodontist may suggest you different treatments based on the kind of malocclusion you have. These may include:

using braces to correct the position of teeth
removal of teeth to solve the problem of overcrowding
bonding, capping, or reshaping of teeth
surgery to shorten or reshape the jaw
plates or wires to stabilize the jawbone

Malocclusion of the teeth may lead to some complications. These include:

tooth decay
discomfort or pain
irritation of the mouth from using appliances like braces
difficulty in chewing or speaking at the time of treatment

How crooked teeth are diagnosed and treated

You need to consult an orthodontist or a specialist who can help diagnose, treat and correct the problem and malocclusion. He will take x-rays and impressions of your teeth to determine the exact problem and suggest the right treatment. In mild cases, the treatment may be prosthodontics which includes bridges, crowns, dentures or tooth veneers. However, orthodontic treatment with braces is needed in most cases. You may contact an invisalign provider to solve your teeth problems.

The treatment with fixed braces will usually take 2 to 3 years. You will have to visit your orthodontist every 4-8 weeks during this period. After braces are removed, you will have to wear retainers for holding your teeth in the new position. Usually, retainers are worn for several years in order to prevent the teeth from reverting to their original position.

Courtesy of ezinearticles.com by Josh Marley