Crowded Teeth: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Dental abnormalities seem trivial to most people but are actually the ones causing most discomfort to people in their lives. There are several dental abnormalities that go unnoticed and untreated because people do not pay much heed to them. The problem of crowded teeth is one of the most common dental problems. The problem of crowded teeth occurs when the teeth inside a person’s mouth do not fit as they are supposed to and, end up in being twisted, overlapped and bunched up. Crowded teeth make it hard for a person to brush and floss properly, thereby causing the accumulation of tartar, plaque, and harmful bacteria, which in turn can lead to severe tooth and gum decay. In addition to these effects of teeth crowding, people with teeth overcrowding can also be conscious about their looks and appearance that might result into the decrease in self esteem.Teeth overcrowding is caused when the teeth and the jaw are out of normal proportions. The problem of overcrowding of teeth can be an inherited trait. Another reason for teeth overcrowding can be the loss of primary teeth earlier than a child is supposed to, resulting in the haphazard eruption of permanent teeth.

The spacing and placement of teeth in a person’s mouth should be proper so as to have proper dental health. Improper placement of teeth can be extremely detrimental to dental health. If a person has crowded teeth, he/she are supposed to go the dentist to get checked and the proper treatment that the doctor may recommend. An appropriate treatment will give the patient the kind of teeth that are placed better along with healthier gums, better bite and an attractive smile. A specialized orthodontist would correctly guide a person in making the best choice of the dental treatment that is required based on a person’s situation and needs. Braces are the most common type of treatment recommended to people with crowded teeth. Dental braces are used to straighten teeth and fix alignment and spacing issues. Although most dentists disagree on pulling out teeth as the treatment of crowded teeth, in severe cases, teeth are pulled out from a person’s mouth in a surgical procedure so as to make more space in the mouth.

Braces can be either fixed or removable. Fixed braces are supposed to be worn all the time and only a dentist is qualified to remove them. Removable braces could be taken out of the mouth, although the conditions for the removal are advised by the dentist. During the first appointment, photographs and X-rays of the teeth are taken and physical oral exams are conducted so that a proper treatment plan is made. Braces are brackets placed across the teeth and these brackets are then connected with arch-wires. The brackets and the arch wire together apply constant pressure that result in the repositioning of the teeth. The brackets could be made up of either metal or ceramic. Metal braces work best and are the strongest. Ceramic braces are comparatively weaker but they are available in different colors and hence, are more attractive to patients. After the braces are placed, a person might need to make regular appointments to the dentist for the replacement of the bands and adjustment of the braces.

The duration of time a patient has to wear dental braces depends on the treatment plan and is often stated by the dentist beforehand. Adults may have to put braces for a longer time than kids. Moreover, if the condition if severe, the person may need to wear it for a longer period of time. After the removal of braces, patients are supposed to wear retainers that hold the teeth in their new places. A retainer is worn for about one year but it can vary from person to person.

Dental braces are generally opted for by people who are in need to correct their teeth that are crowded and out of alignment. Another essential factor is the oral health of the person. If a person is troubled with dental conditions such as tooth and gum decay, periodontitis or gingivitis, then these conditions are needed to be corrected first and foremost, so that the condition may not worsen for the person.

Because of the fact that their permanent teeth have not had long enough to develop, children younger than the age of eight years old are not eligible for the use of dental braces and aligners, as well.

To put braces in the mouth of the patient is by far the most common treatment for crowded teeth. It solves the spacing problem of the teeth due to overcrowding. But the use of braces has a lot of side effects. Dental braces can lead to the pain and soreness in the jaws, gums and teeth in the beginning when the braces are just attached. This is due to the fact that a lot of pressure is put on the teeth through the use of these devices and it takes time for the mouth and the jaws to get used to the applied foreign pressure. The pressure on the jaw also causes headaches which also takes time to subside. It also gets difficult to chew food and only the food items that are soft to eat are advised to patients. The use of braces goes on for a long period of time, resulting in the accumulation of plaque and tartar in those areas of the mouth that, due to the presence of brackets and wires, are inaccessible while brushing and flossing.

After the dentist has put in braces for the proper spacing of the teeth, special care has to be practiced when it comes to oral hygiene of the person. It is a well known fact that braces cause a rise in the occurring of tooth decay and so, oral health should be given full attention. Brushing teeth twice a day along with regular flossing of the teeth are two ways to keep oral problems at bay. Regular visits to the dentist are also recommended.

The go to treatment for crowded teeth is braces and that takes about one year to three years to bring the teeth in perfect shape and place so that discomfort and other problems are subsided.

Dental braces are available in two materials- metallic and ceramic. Dentist’s visitation and consultation fee is flexible from one dentist to another. Apart from that, the average cost of metal braces is around INR 20,000-30,000 and that of ceramic braces is INR 40,000-50,000.

The fact that a person has the problem of teeth crowding can only be decided after all of the teeth of the person have erupted. The treatment can be opted for by a person in either adolescence or adulthood. For adults, though, the treatment might be a slower and longer process than for adolescents. Except that difference in time period, the results of the entire treatment are permanent and the teeth are spaced perfectly after that.

There exists an alternative to the treatment of crowded teeth. Aligners are an alternative to traditional braces, are a series of clear and in some cases customized removable devices. Aligner is worn for only two weeks and removed for just eating, and brushing and flossing. Pulling out the teeth in surgical procedure is also another alternative. Be it for the appearance or for the treatment of dental problems, teeth crowding should be treated with the same medical attention as other disorders or dental problems as teeth crowding, if not treated, can also cause serious troubles for a person.