Crooked teeth – what are the causes?
Crooked teeth in children and adults are not uncommon today. Practice has shown that with the progress and evolution of man, we have more and more crooked teeth and irregular bites. While this may not seem to make sense to you, read below why this is so.
There are several causes of this irregularity and they differ in terms of whether the teeth are crooked in children or in adults.
Crooked teeth in children usually occur as a genetic predisposition or due to bad habits such as prolonged sucking of the thumb or pacifier. Characteristic image in a child who sucks his thumb are moved and bent upper front teeth, open bite, impossibility of normal closing of the lips.
A common cause of crooked teeth in children is the premature loss of a milky tooth, especially during the period of tooth change. The adjacent permanent tooth moves into the space of the prematurely extracted milky tooth and in that way “blocks” the eruption of the permanent tooth of the deputy.
On the menus of today’s man, there is mostly soft and processed food, which is why there is an irregular bite. Children chew less soft food and they do not chew certain snacks but only swallow them. In order for the jaw bones and teeth to develop properly, it is necessary to stimulate the masticatory muscles, i.e. to consume solid and unprocessed food.
Myofunctional habits (the function of the child’s muscles and the position of the tongue) can also cause improper bite. In order for the face, jaws and teeth to develop properly, it is necessary to have a balance in the function of the surrounding neck muscles, cheeks, lips and tongue. Disturbance of balance leads to an incorrect bite which of course can be corrected. In order for the obtained results to be stable, it is necessary to establish muscle balance with certain exercises. In Dr. Cvjetković’s office, you will receive detailed instructions and help in correcting an incorrect bite.
Crooked teeth in children, i.e. tooth anguish, can also occur when the size of the teeth does not match the size of the jaw, i.e. there is not enough space in the jaw to accommodate all the teeth. Modern man has a much smaller jaw compared to our ancestors.
Crooked teeth in adults can persist from childhood. There are also situations when people had the right teeth and the right bite but over time they started to bend and migrate.
Tooth curvature and displacement in adults can occur due to inadequate tooth loading, loss of permanent teeth, periodontitis, punch and other traumas.
How do I recognize an incorrect bite?
When we say irregular bite, we generally mean the ratio of the upper and lower jaw, although this irregularity has a wide range of variations.
You will certainly not be able to recognize all the irregularities, but it is useful to pay attention to those that are noticeable and because of which you can contact us for timely correction.
Proper bite means that the upper teeth slightly overlap the lower teeth and that the upper lateral teeth touch exactly the intended places in the lower ones.
Improper bite occurs when the lower jaw is pulled back or positioned forward relative to the upper. The upper incisors may be too tilted forward or backward and not overlap properly with the lower ones.
You are probably wondering why this happened to you?
Improper bite is most often inherited. The good news is that it can be successfully corrected, provided that the treatment begins in childhood during the period of growth and development of the jaw bones.
Is it necessary to correct an incorrect bite?
Today, it is fashionable to wear dentures among children and teenagers. Beautiful teeth lead teenagers to correct even the smallest irregularities, which was not the case before.
Of course, if you do not have health consequences and aesthetics are not your primary one – you do not have to correct an incorrect bite.
Often, an improper bite can cause health problems and we will list just a few of them:
– The formation of periodontal pockets and the beginning of periodontitis. Folded teeth are difficult to clean and maintain, especially the interdental spaces around them. In these places, the risk of caries and gum and bone diseases is increased;
– In case of incorrect tooth position, the chewing pressure is not transmitted correctly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tooth. The tooth suffers from increased pressure, abrasion or loosening of the tooth is present, dying of the dental nerve, pulling of the bones and gums around the tooth is possible;
– Improper bite can cause pain in the lower jaw or occasional headaches;
– Poor ratio of front teeth affects the speech and pronunciation of individual voices;
– Improper care can impair the aesthetics of the face, which in young people, especially during puberty, significantly affects the level of self-confidence.
We are of the opinion that improper bite and crooked teeth in children should always be corrected. The treatment started at that age gives excellent and relatively fast results. Crooked teeth in adults require a deeper analysis and a good assessment of the real situation and expectations.
In the Cvjetković practice, we will approach your problem individually, look at all aspects of therapy and make a decision on further treatment together with you. Have faith in our top orthodontics experts. Call +381 69 2289 229.
How can I correct crooked teeth?
There are several ways to correct teeth and bites, and which one we will use with you depends on the type of irregularity and your age. In childhood, mobile devices (children’s dentures) have an advantage, while after changing teeth and completing the growth of the jaws, we use fixed devices and invisible foils (Invisalign). In some situations, along with the fixed device, surgical corrections of the jaws are necessary.