Help! There’s No Space in My Mouth - All You Need to Know About Dental Crowding

Crooked, crowded, and misaligned teeth are commonly seen in kids, adults and the elderly. They ruin not only your smile but also your oral health in the long run. In this blog, we’ll look at the common causes of dental crowding and what can be done to fix it

What is Dental Crowding?

Crowded teeth are also known as dental crowding or overcrowding. This is when there's insufficient room in the mouth, so the permanent teeth are unable to grow straight. As a result, teeth overlap each other and become crooked. Depending on the jaw size, overcrowding can range from mild to severe:

Moderate Crowding: This occurs when two or more anterior teeth overlap in the lower or upper jaw
Mild Crowding: This happens when the jaw slightly moves because there’s one anterior tooth.
Severe Crowding: This occurs when several anterior teeth in the lower and upper jaw overlap.
Causes of Dental Crowding
Dental crowding occurs because of several reasons. Some of them are listed below:
The teeth don’t align properly and overlap if they’re bigger than the jaw.
Some people have a smaller jaw and permanent teeth don’t have the room to grow properly
Other teeth can take up space and cause crowding if a primary tooth is lost too early.
Children using a pacifier after the age of 3 risk crowding
Prolonged bottle-feed in childhood can also cause dental crowding

Problems Caused by Dental Crowding

Teeth crowding makes it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene as it becomes difficult to floss and brush regularly. It can lead to bleeding gums and other gum diseases. Crowded teeth don’t allow gums to fit in properly around the teeth. As a result, bacteria build-up in an area not easily accessible through flossing or toothbrush and turns into plaque, causing gum diseases. In extreme cases, dental crowding can cause teeth to chip.

How You Can Fix It

Treatment plans of crowning depend on the severity and age of the patient. However, standard options are:

Dental Braces: They’re a common option for children. Braces are used to adjust teeth and are normally left from 18 months to 3 years.
Clear Aligners: Also known as Invisalign, they’re a form of orthodontic treatment to align teeth. They’re usually worn 20 hours a day for 20 weeks to correct the issue.

Last Thoughts

You should go for a dental checkup every six months to ensure good hygiene. If you’re in Frisco and looking for dental services, we’re here to help. From root canal to wisdom tooth removal, we offer everything. If you want to make an appointment, contact us, and we'll get back to you!