Are you tired of feeling like a sardine in a can every time you smile? Dental crowding, also known as overcrowded teeth, is a common dental issue that orthodontists frequently encounter. If left untreated, it can lead to complications like tooth decay and gum disease. In this article, we’ll dive into the causes of dental crowding and explore the various treatments available to help you achieve a brighter, healthier smile!

What is crowding teeth?

Crowded teeth occur when there is insufficient space in the mouth, causing the teeth to shift and become misaligned. This condition can affect children and adults, particularly in the lower teeth. It often occurs when children start losing their baby teeth, while in adults, it can be due to a lack of space in the mouth.

What causes crowded teeth?

Crowded teeth are attributed to a lack of space in the mouth. This may be because of jaw problems, excess teeth, and/or improper growth placement. Here are some of the common reasons that cause crowded teeth.

Your jaw is too small.

One possibility is that your jaw is too small. You have large teeth, and it just doesn’t fit in your mouth because of your small jaw.

You have an ogival or a narrow palate.

Your upper jaw has a more tapered shape than a regular upper jaw. If you look into the mirror and only see fewer than six teeth, you have a narrow palate.

You have extra teeth.

You have more teeth than an average person. Wisdom teeth add here as well!

You had missing teeth before, and the new teeth grew wherever they wanted.

You used to have a missing or broken tooth; it gave enough space for the new teeth to grow wherever they want to grow, causing the newer teeth to be closer or farther to the other teeth.

How do you get crowded teeth?

When it comes to smiling, having a healthy set of teeth is essential for creating a perfect smile. But when you look in the mirror and see your crowded teeth, you may ask yourself, how did I end up with so many teeth? You might wonder, what is the root cause of your crowded teeth? Here are some possibles on how you developed crowding teeth:

Hereditary

Genetics plays a big role in your face structure. If you were born with a small jaw, you have higher chances of developing crowded teeth.

Bad Oral Habits

Bad oral habits during your younger years play a big role in the shape of your jaw and the alignment of your teeth. If you used to suck your thumb excessively or used a pacifier too long, then it may have affected the growth of your teeth.

Wisdom Teeth

Your wisdom teeth have just grown in, and your mouth doesn’t have enough space to allow for this growth. To prevent this, have frequent orthodontic checkups so that when the time comes for your wisdom teeth to grow, there will be enough space for them.

Degrees of Crowding

To find an appropriate solution for dental crowding, an orthodontist must first assess the complexity of the case. This involves determining the severity of overcrowding in both the upper and lower teeth. During the initial consultation, the orthodontist will use various methods, such as X-rays and 3D scans, to perform a detailed dental study and determine the extent of the overcrowding. The orthodontist will recommend the most effective treatment approach based on the results.

Mild

When dental crowding is classified as mild, it typically means that there is less than 3mm of space missing for a single tooth.

Moderate

Moderate dental crowding refers to a situation where 2 or 3 teeth are misaligned due to a lack of 3-5mm of jaw space.

Severe

Severe dental crowding occurs when the teeth are positioned outside of the jawline and require more than 6mm of additional space to become aligned.

How to Treat Crowded Teeth

Treating crowded teeth cannot be done naturally, so dental intervention is required. Depending on the severity of the crowded teeth, your orthodontist may perform different dental treatments.

Mild Cases

If the dental crowding is mild, with less than 3mm of space missing from the dental arch, veneers can be a viable option for patients who want to correct their teeth without braces. Veneers are typically made of ceramic or composite materials and blend seamlessly with the color of natural teeth, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking outcome.

Moderate to Severe Cases

Corrective orthodontic treatments, such as braces, can treat dental crowding once permanent teeth start growing, typically around age 12. 

Takeaway

Crowding teeth may become a bothersome or the source of your decreasing confidence in your smile. It may not be pleasing to the eyes but know these are fixable. The best way to know more about crowding teeth is to consult with an orthodontist. Make sure that you are consulting with a reliable and trusted Roseville orthodontics, like Kumra Orthodontics. Kumra Orthodontics is the leading orthodontic clinic in Roseville. With over 15 years of earned reputation in the industry, affordable orthodontic services for all ages, and a lot of insurance partners available, Kumra Orthodontics is the go-to orthodontic clinic for most families.