You should never have to hide your smile because of crooked teeth.
Crooked teeth can present oral health and cosmetic dental concerns that could affect your long-term oral health. Crooked teeth or a misaligned bite can put you at risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay. Your bite pattern can also be affected. Patients of all ages can benefit from treating crooked teeth.
Straightening Crooked Teeth without Braces
If your crooked teeth aren’t causing other problems with your oral health, or you just have one or two crooked teeth, there are several dental treatments that can meet your oral health needs and improve the appearance of your smile. Alternatives to braces for straightening your teeth include:
- Porcelain veneers: Veneers cover the front-facing part of your tooth. They can be used to fill gaps between the teeth or allow you to have a straight, even smile.
- Dental crowns: Similar to veneers, a dental crown is a cap that goes over the entirety of your tooth. This also improves your bite function and other issues that can come with crooked teeth.
- Dental bonding: Bonding can perform many of the same actions as veneers. The bonding material is matched to the color of your smile and can be molded to give the appearance of the smile you’re looking for.
The Advantages of Straight Teeth
Having straight teeth is quintessential for a beautiful and healthy smile. Patients with properly aligned teeth enjoy long-term oral health benefits.
- Straighter teeth are easier to clean
- Reduce a patient’s risk of tooth decay and even tooth loss
- Properly aligned bites are more stable
- Bite pattern functions better with straight teeth
Straightening crooked teeth can also improve a patient’s overall confidence and quality of life. For instance, having a misaligned bite can lead to problems with TMJ disorders. This means you may encounter problems with your jaw function. You may experience pain or tension in your jaw or throughout your face and head. Headaches may increase, especially in the morning when you wake up. Your jaw may click and you could have trouble opening and closing it.
Schedule A Consultation
Don’t hide your beautiful smile because of crooked teeth. If you are looking for a discreet, comfortable option to realign your crooked teeth, we can help. Contact Owings Mills Dental Care at 410-782-3021 or request an appointment online.
Our dental care team provides compassionate, modern, preventative dentistry in a comfortable environment. We welcome new patients from Owings Mills, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Randallstown, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn, and all surrounding Baltimore County communities.
Crooked Teeth FAQs
Understanding your options can help you make the best decision for crooked teeth treatment. This common dental concern can make it harder to clean your teeth and may lead to other dental issues. For these reasons, you should consider straightening your crooked teeth. Here, we’ll review the most frequently asked questions about crooked to help you.
What happens if I don’t fix crooked teeth?
Having crooked teeth can impact the rest of your oral health. It’s harder to clean crooked teeth properly, which puts you at a higher risk for tooth decay. You’re also at a higher risk for broken teeth and problems with TMJ disorders because your bite is uneven. The pressure of your bite isn’t dispersed evenly throughout your smile.
Can crooked teeth get worse over time?
Yes, it’s possible. Your teeth are moving and shifting over time, so it’s likely that the crowded teeth or gaps you have now will continue to get worse with time without correction.
Can I straighten my teeth at any age?
Yep! Even when you’re a senior, your teeth can still be straightened. However, if you have severe bite problems, it is easier for those to be corrected when the mouth is still growing and developing as an adolescent.
Can I fix crooked teeth at home?
While DIY methods for straightening teeth exist, we do not suggest using them because they can put your oral health at risk. Also, they will likely be ineffective without the guidance of a dental professional. A dentist will ensure safe and successful results. We suggest scheduling a consultation to learn more about straightening your teeth and why you should avoid home treatments.
Do crooked teeth affect my speech?
Yes, crooked teeth can have a significant impact on your speech. Misaligned teeth can often result in lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. Correcting your teeth alignment often improves speech clarity.
Do I need braces to fix crooked teeth?
Not necessarily. While braces are a common solution, you can straighten teeth without braces using options like dental crowns, porcelain veneers, and tooth bonding. These types of dental treatments offer a faster method to achieve a straight smile.
What are porcelain veneers, and how will they straighten my teeth?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells placed over the front of your teeth. A dental lab custom-creates them to fit right over your natural tooth. The dental veneers we use are made from strong, tooth-colored porcelain. The main purpose of teeth veneers is to hide imperfections such as crooked teeth.
If your teeth are slightly misaligned, teeth veneers will give the appearance of a straighter smile. The dentist reshapes the surface of your teeth, then bonds the veneers to them, hiding gaps, uneven edges, or slight misalignment. Veneers can provide a straight, white smile without braces.
Can dental crowns help with crooked teeth?
Dental crowns cover the entire tooth, making them a suitable option for correcting severe misalignment. Crowns can reshape and align teeth, providing both functional and aesthetic benefits. They also strengthen teeth weakened by decay or damage.
How does tooth bonding work for crooked teeth?
Tooth bonding involves applying a tooth-colored resin to your teeth. Your dentist will mold and shape the resin to correct minor misalignments. This method works best for slight crookedness or small gaps. Bonding is a cost-effective and quick solution that we typically complete in one visit.
How long does it take to straighten teeth without braces?
With dental crowns, dental bonding, and porcelain veneers, the process to achieve a straight smile is quick. If you choose tooth bonding, we can complete the treatment in a single dental appointment. Dental veneers and crowns can deliver results in just a few appointments. While tooth bonding provides immediate results, its longevity depends on care and maintenance.