Teeth overcrowding can happen to your child when his or her jaw has not grown enough to provide room for all the teeth to have enough room. This results in one or more teeth becoming overlapped, misaligned, or both.
Braces and clear plastic aligners like Invisalign are effective treatment options for teeth overcrowding in children.
In this article, we discuss what causes tooth overcrowding, the effects of having uncorrected overcrowded teeth, and the available treatment options to replace overcrowding with straight teeth and a great smile.
If you are interested in braces for your child, please call Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry at (480) 422-4544.
How Braces Can Fix Overcrowded Teeth
Orthodontic treatment is effective in fixing crowded teeth. The most common method is braces, although in some cases, clear aligners like Invisalign treatment may also be practical.
Braces
Braces can put pressure on misaligned teeth to gradually move them into their correct positions.
Braces can treat almost all teeth crowding problems.
Braces treatment for overcrowded teeth usually takes two or three years to complete.
After braces removal, a retainer is used to help keep the teeth in their new, proper alignment.
Invisalign
Invisalign treatment is an alternative treatment to braces that uses multiple sets of custom-made clear aligner trays. Each tray is worn for about two weeks.
The next set of trays is shaped to continue the tooth realignment progress from the previous set of trays.
The main limitation of removable plastic aligners is that they are patient-dependent —they need to be worn 22 hours per day to work.
Scheduling a consultation with an orthodontist can let you know if Invisalign treatment is a practical option for your child.
Causes of Crowded Teeth
The direct cause of teeth crowding is a lack of jaw space.
But what causes this lack of space to occur?
There are many possible reasons, some genetic and others due to behaviors that become habits.
Some common causes of tooth overcrowding include:
- The jaw is too small to accommodate all the teeth as they erupt
- Teeth that grow too large for a smaller jaw size
- Having too many teeth for the size of the jaw (often related to wisdom teeth eruption)
- Having a narrow palate
- Digit sucking (thumb sucking)
- Tongue thrusts while swallowing
- Losing baby teeth too early
- Abnormal gum growth
Problems with Uncorrected Teeth Overcrowding
Overcrowded, misaligned teeth can certainly cause your child to feel awkward about smiling.
But other, serious health risks can also result from tooth crowding if the condition goes untreated.
Here are some of the possible consequences when tooth crowding is left untreated for too long.
Problems with Oral Hygiene and Oral Health
Crowded, misaligned teeth are harder to clean with tooth brushing and flossing.
This makes them more vulnerable to bacterial plaque growth.
That plaque, in turn, eventually contributes to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and eventually to periodontal disease and ultimately to tooth loss.
Excessive Tooth Wear
Misaligned and overcrowded teeth do not come together properly when biting and chewing.
This can contribute to uneven wear on tooth enamel surfaces.
Worn-down enamel eventually becomes more susceptible to tooth decay and cavities.
Mouth Pain and Headaches
The same malalignment and malocclusion that can cause uneven enamel wear can also lead to general, chronic tooth and jaw pain as well as frequent headaches.
Problems with Digestion
Children who have crowded teeth often have trouble chewing food thoroughly.
Over time, this can contribute to trouble digesting what they eat.
Does Your Child Have Crowded Teeth?
At Ironwood Pediatric Dentistry, our pediatric dentists and orthodontists are trained to recognize all orthodontic issues and recommend the best treatment options.
Our experienced orthodontists can come up with the most efficient and practical plan to help fix your child’s overcrowded teeth.
Call us today at (480) 422-4544 or reach out to us online to set up an appointment!
