Cosmetic Dentistry For Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth are often twisted and malformed because they didn’t have enough space when your permanent teeth began to erupt. If you were lucky, the problem was addressed when you were still a child, but many adults whose parents couldn’t afford expensive cosmetic dentistry treatment are still living with crooked, overcrowded teeth today.

Health Issues Caused By Crowded Teeth

Apart from not feeling as good about your smile, crowded teeth bring additional health problems. The bite may not be correct, the teeth are difficult to clean properly, and tooth decay and gum disease are common. You could even develop jaw joint disorders that result in additional symptoms such as headaches and migraines. Although one can “cover up” crowded teeth, the best solution is correction of the problem.

Can adults’ teeth still be aligned?

In many cases, they can. Your cosmetic dentist will be able to give you the right advice. If possible, moving your teeth into the right position over time is the best solution. This can be done with braces, but many people feel even more uncomfortable about wearing braces than they do about their crooked teeth.

In that case, almost-invisible aligners (Invisalign aligners) can be used to slowly push your teeth into position. Of course, you may have to have one or more extractions to make room for your teeth, no matter what method is used to align them, but the improvement in your appearance and oral health will be worth it.

Veneers: when your teeth can’t be aligned

Unfortunately, teeth can’t always be aligned, and in some cases, the problem is more of an aesthetic issue than a dental health one. In this case, you can opt for dental veneers.

Veneers are thin shells that are applied to the front surfaces of your teeth to hide aesthetic problems. You can either have composite veneers, which are applied to your teeth and formed by your dentist, or you can choose the slightly more expensive but longer-lasting and more natural looking porcelain veneers. These are made in a dental laboratory.

Compared to alignment, this is a quick-fix solution. Your teeth may still be crowded, but it won’t show up when you smile or laugh. However, you should take your dentist’s advice on whether to choose alignment or whether the last-ditch solution of veneers is best for you.

Crowns could work for you too

Crowns are another way to improve the appearance of overcrowded teeth, and they may be combined with veneers to create the look you’re hoping to achieve. Ultimately, the choice of treatment options and cosmetic dentistry procedures is best made after consultation with a dentist.

Getting back to basics: you should discuss this with a dentist

To be honest, every person (and their teeth) is different. Although there are broad answers that we can discuss as we did in this article, the options that will be best for your appearance and oral health will depend on your unique circumstances. See your dentist and discuss your concerns. He or she will be in the best position to advise you as to what will work best for you.