When you have one crooked tooth, it can sabotage your smile and impact your self-confidence. Thankfully, there are many solutions to fix it.
Many adults are seeking orthodontic treatment to correct a crooked bite or misaligned teeth. Straighter teeth improve oral health by making it easier to remove plaque and food particles.
Braces
Using a network of brackets and tight wires, braces apply steady pressure to shift teeth into a healthy position pre-determined by your orthodontist. This forces the natural periodontal ligament, a protein found in all bones that absorbs shock and transfers it from one bone to another, to change shape around the tooth. This movement causes the root to resorb, and the bone to remodel. This can help correct crooked teeth, bridge gaps, and even uncross teeth, which are often the result of a single impacted or overcrowded tooth.
Unlike the wires used in traditional braces, modern braces use nickel-titanium arch wires with “shape memory,” which can be bent to meet a specific bracket on a crooked tooth. This allows the wire to apply a little more force than normal, which can move a tooth in either direction. The orthodontist may also use elastic ligatures, which are small rubber bands that help connect the arch wire to the brackets. These come in different colors and must be replaced by the orthodontist at each appointment as they lose elasticity over time.
A misaligned or crooked tooth can lower self-esteem and lead to gum disease and other oral health problems down the road. Braces are a great way to fix these problems and prevent them from getting worse, especially in children who might have a harder time dealing with crooked teeth as they grow.
Aligners
Invisalign is a treatment option that involves clear, removable trays that straighten your teeth gradually. It is a popular choice for adults that want to avoid the unsightly look of metal braces.
A crooked smile is more than just a cosmetic problem, it can lead to a variety of oral health issues like gum disease and tooth decay. If left untreated, crooked teeth can also impact your speech and chewing abilities. Straightening your teeth with aligners can help protect your overall oral health and give you a healthier, more beautiful smile.
During your initial consultation, the dentist will use state-of-the-art imaging technology to capture a 3D rendering of your mouth. This image will be uploaded to the computer and the dentist can then create a digital model of your teeth. The model will be used to determine how crooked your teeth are, which will in turn determine how long it will take for the aligners to move them into the correct position.
During treatment, patients will wear the aligners 20-22 hours per day and remove them only for eating or cleaning. The trays will need to be replaced every one to three weeks and each tray will move the teeth by a few millimeters. It can take 12 to 18 months for the treatment to be complete. In some cases, the dentist may need to use attachments or elastics, similar to those used with traditional metal braces.
Veneers
Veneers are a cosmetic option that can be used to improve the appearance of crooked teeth. They are thin porcelain or composite resin shells that are bonded to the front of the tooth to change its shape, size, color, and alignment. They can also hide chips, cracks, discoloration, and minor gaps. They are a great option for people with one or two crooked front teeth that don’t need full orthodontic treatment. However, if your teeth are severely crooked or misaligned, veneers may not be the right solution for you. In this case, it is important to discuss your options with a dentist and find the treatment that best meets your goals.
Unlike more invasive dental procedures like crowns and teeth whitening, veneers are non-invasive and can be quickly applied in one session. However, they are not permanent and must be maintained with regular dental visits, brushing and flossing to prevent staining and decay underneath the veneers.
The recovery from veneers is relatively quick and painless. Patients may experience some sensitivity to hot or cold foods and slight soreness, but these symptoms should not last long. The dentist will prep the tooth by removing some enamel to create space for the veneers. They may also use a local anesthetic to make the procedure more comfortable for the patient.
Lumineers
Lumineers are porcelain shells that fit over your teeth to instantly fix problems such as chips, cracks, and misalignment. They are thinner than traditional veneers and are made of patented ceramic, so they reflect light the same way natural enamel does. They are less invasive than regular veneers because no prep work is necessary. They are also reversible, meaning they can be removed or replaced if you ever change your mind.
During a Lumineers treatment, our dentist will take x-ray images and impressions of your teeth to ensure the Lumineers are properly sized and fitted. Then, your tooth will be lightly filed and etched so that the Lumineers adhere to the surface of your teeth. A special cement is then applied to the Lumineers and a curing light is used to harden the bonding process. Once the Lumineers are applied, your teeth will look straight and perfect.
Lumineers are a great option for patients who want to straighten their smile without the hassle of braces. They can correct a number of cosmetic issues, including chipped and cracked teeth, discoloration caused by coffee or red wine, and crooked teeth. They are also a good choice for people who have stains on their teeth that don’t respond well to whitening. Unlike veneers, which require removal of healthy underlying tooth structure, Lumineers are virtually painless and can be placed in only two visits to our office.