Crooked teeth can not only affect your oral health, but they can also affect your confidence. Addressing crooked teeth can not only restore health and function to your smile, but it can also improve the appearance of your smile. They are one of the common orthodontic concerns that Dr. Wayne Sankey treats. During your consultation, he will suggest the best treatment for your crooked teeth in Flowers Mound, TX.
Dr. Sankey is in the top 1% of Invisalign orthodontic providers in the nation. He provides long-term, personalized solutions for your orthodontics needs. If you would like to explore the numerous treatment options we offer for crooked teeth, visit our team at Flower Mound Orthodontics. We offer both traditional braces and clear aligner systems for both adult and teen patients.
How To Fix Crooked Teeth in Flower Mound, TX
Straightening crooked teeth can be achieved through a number of different orthodontic methods. This range of treatments includes anything from Invisalign to traditional metal braces. The type of treatment you receive will depend on the extent of your orthodontic problems, your cosmetic goals, and your budget. Dental professionals are trained to examine your smile and determine which type of treatment will be best for your needs.
Our team at Flower Mound Orthodontics can work with you to build a personalized treatment plan that is right for you. We will discuss each step of treatment before beginning to ensure that you understand the process and at home care throughout treatment. Your treatment options may include one of the following orthodontic treatments:
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces use metal brackets and wires to gradually and precisely move teeth into their desired positions. The brackets are cemented to each tooth, and the wires are periodically tightened by an orthodontist. This constant pressure reshapes the teeth and aligns them over time, correcting crookedness and bite issues. To learn more about how braces work, see Types of Dental Braces.
Invisalign
The Invisalign system uses a series of clear, removable aligners to fix crooked teeth. These custom-made aligners gradually shift teeth into the desired position by applying gentle and controlled force. As patients progress through their series of clear aligners, their teeth move incrementally until they achieve the desired alignment. This treatment is less noticeable than traditional braces. To learn more about this clear aligner orthodontic treatment, see Invisalign Clear Braces.
Invisalign Teen
Invisalign Teen works similarly to standard Invisalign. It uses clear, removable aligners that gently move crooked teeth over time into proper position. However, Invisalign teen includes features like compliance indicators and replacement aligners. This helps to accommodate the active lifestyles and growth of teenagers allowing them to enjoy the this discreet and effective orthodontic treatment. To learn more about Invisalign for teens, see Invisalign Teen Braces.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces function like traditional metal braces. However, they use clear or tooth-colored brackets and wires instead of metal. They apply consistent pressure on teeth, guiding them into their desired positions over time. Ceramic braces are effective at correcting crooked teeth while offering a more discreet appearance than metal braces. To learn more about them, see Types of Dental Braces.
Do Crooked Teeth Affect Your Oral Health?
Crooked teeth can lead to gum disease.
With crooked teeth, bacteria have more places to hide; as a result, bacteria can stick to the teeth and may eventually develop into plaque. When plaque is not properly removed, it can increase a patient’s risk of gum disease and tooth decay. In the advanced stages of gum disease, a patient may experience premature tooth loss.
Having crooked teeth can make it difficult to clean your teeth and gums properly.
It can be a challenge to clean crooked teeth. The bristle of the toothbrush and floss can not properly reach all surfaces of the teeth, making it more difficult to keep the teeth and gums clean. When the teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, it can lead to oral health issues such as gum disease and tooth decay.
Crooked teeth can cause bad breath.
Bad breath can occur when debris and bacteria are not adequately removed from the mouth. When patients have crooked teeth it is easier for place and bacteria to become stuck in cervices, causing bad breath. It can also be very difficult to remove and clean teeth when they are crooked, which can impact your overall oral hygiene.
Crooked teeth can make it difficult to chew.
If a patient has an overbite, underbite, protruding teeth, or other orthodontic issues, it can make it more difficult to chew. When the teeth rub against each other, it may also lead to digestion complications. This can largely impact patients lives, so we suggest orthodontic treatment to align your smile and make it easier to chew and digest.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth may be caused by one or more of the following factors:
- Facial injury
- Premature loss of the baby teeth
- Genetics
- Poor dental habits
- Excessive use of a pacifier, thumb sucking, or using the teeth as tools
Crooked Teeth FAQs
Do you have further questions about crooked teeth and how orthodontics can align your smile? Continue reading to find answers to frequently asked questions in our office.
Can crooked teeth affect my facial structure?
In some very rare cases, severe teeth misalignment can lead to subtle changes in facial appearance. However, this is very uncommon. The most impact crooked teeth have on appearance is with your smile.
Can crooked teeth make it difficult to clean between teeth?
Yes, crooked teeth make it harder to clean between your teeth. It creates tight spaces that make it a challenge to clean. This significantly increases your risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
Does Invisalign work for slightly crooked teeth?
Invisalign does work to straighten crooked teeth. In some extremely severe cases braces are needed to help straighten teeth, but in general, aligners work to straighten misaligned teeth. Invisalign treated is best suited for less severe tooth misalignment. If you have severely misaligned teeth there are other orthodontic treatment options that may better suit your needs.
Who is a good candidate for Invisalign?
Any patient wishing to realign their teeth and is willing to commit to wearing aligners 22 hours per day is a good candidate for Invisalign. You must stay committed to wearing your aligners for the full time each day for treatment to be successful. Before undergoing Invisalign treatment patients should be aware that it is a full-time commitment that they are making.
What is a faster treatment, braces or Invisalign?
In most cases treatment times for braces and Invisalign are close together, however, Invisalign may be faster sometimes. The average treatment time for braces is between 18-24 months, while the average time with Invisalign is 12 months. This varies from patient to patient, however Invisalign is commonly used to treat less severe tooth misalignment which may be why treatment times may be slightly faster than braces.
Can crooked teeth lead to speech problems?
It is possible for crooked teeth to lead to speech problems. Severe misalignment can affect your bite and impede with your tongue and lip movements. In some cases, correcting crooked teeth may improve speech clarity.
Straighten Crooked Teeth in Flower Mound, TX
To explore your treatment options for crooked teeth near you, visit our trusted team of professionals at Flower Mound Orthodontics. Dr. Sankey is a respected and highly trained orthodontist in the Lewisville area. He works with patients on an individual basis to offer conservative solutions for their orthodontic concerns. To learn more about your treatment options, call 972.833.8212 or request an appointment online.