Crooked and crowded teeth do more than ruin your smile. They also make it more difficult to clean your teeth and dramatically increase your risk of dental problems like cracks, decay, and gum disease.
If you’re ready to straighten your teeth and improve your bite, it’s time to talk with the team at Litchfield Dental Care about SureSmile® clear aligners. But don’t wait too long to schedule your appointment. Time is running out to use your insurance benefits before the new year.
Here are the top five orthodontic problems that SureSmile clear aligners can resolve.
Gaps between teeth
Gaps most often develop between the two upper front teeth. However, the problem could appear anywhere in your mouth, especially if your teeth are too small for your jawbone or the bone is too large.
When the gap occurs between your upper front teeth, it’s usually caused by:
- Overgrowth of the skin between the top lip and teeth (the frenulum)
- Problems with the teeth next to the two front teeth
- Tongue pushing against the teeth (tongue thrust)
- Thumb sucking
Severe gum disease (periodontitis) that causes bone erosion may lead to a gap when the damaged bone lets the teeth move.
Crowded teeth
Crowded teeth occur when your jawbone doesn’t have enough room for all of your teeth, or your teeth are larger than usual and don’t fit into the bone properly. As a result, your teeth overlap, bunch up, or some teeth shift behind or in front of others.
Your genes determine the size of your jaw and teeth. You could also end up with crowded teeth if a baby tooth doesn’t fall out or you have extra adult teeth.
Open bite
You have an open bite if your upper and lower front teeth don’t meet. This condition usually develops when the teeth are slanted, leaving an opening between the top and bottom teeth when your mouth is closed.
An open bite may arise from thumb sucking, tongue thrust, and misaligned jaws. No matter the cause, treatment with SureSmile clear aligners can correct it, preventing problems like difficulty talking, chewing, and swallowing.
Overbite, underbite, and crossbite
Overbite, underbite, and crossbite are three types of misalignment that SureSmile clear aligners correct:
Overbite
You have an overbite when your upper teeth are too far forward, making them jut out over your bottom teeth. Many people have a slight overbite that doesn’t need treatment. A more severe overbite needs SureSmile treatment to prevent dental problems.
Underbite
An underbite means your lower teeth are too far forward compared to your upper teeth, allowing them to sit in front of your upper teeth when your mouth is closed. We treat underbites even if they seem mild.
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when one or more of your upper teeth don’t close over your lower teeth. Instead, some of the upper teeth fit inside your lower teeth.
Twisted or crooked teeth
Teeth can be crooked or twisted if they’re crowded, as previously mentioned. This is a separate category, however, because many people have slightly twisted or crooked teeth that don’t cause dental problems.
Though mild problems may not need treatment to prevent oral health problems, they still affect your appearance and self-confidence. SureSmile clear aligners can resolve these issues, realigning your teeth and improving your smile.
Call Litchfield Dental Care today or connect with us online to schedule an appointment and learn if SureSmile clear aligners are a good choice for restoring your dental health. We offer expert orthodontic treatment for the whole family in Litchfield Park, Arizona.