How to Fix Crooked Teeth? Understand Your Treatment Options

Correcting crooked teeth is as important for the aesthetics of your smile as it is for your dental hygiene. Crooked teeth are more difficult to clean and are thus more susceptible to dental decay than straight teeth. Let’s take a closer look at what your treatment options are if you want to know how to fix crooked teeth.

The Problem With Crooked Teeth

When your teeth aren’t straight, they can create small gaps and awkward spaces that are difficult for your toothbrush to access. Over time this can lead to dental decay. Crooked teeth can affect

• Your sense of confidence when you smile or speak
• Your oral health, leading to dental decay or gum disease
• Pain in your jaw as a result of problems with your bite
• Uneven wear and tear on your teeth
• Tooth sensitivity

Teeth straightening can assist with

• Crowded teeth
• A gapped smile
• Bite problems: an under-, over- or cross-bite

What Treatment Options Do You Have For Teeth Straightening?

The most suitable orthodontic treatment will depend on your teeth straightening needs, budget and lifestyle factors. Once you have had a consultation your dental practitioner will prepare a treatment plan that details your orthodontic treatment options.

How To Fix Crooked Teeth With Braces?

Traditional metal braces can be used on mild to severe straightening and to address bite issues.

Making use of a system of brackets and wires, traditional braces are very effective at bringing the teeth into alignment.

They need to be adjusted regularly by your dentist and will be worn for 18 to 36 months, depending on the correction you need.

Fixing Teeth With Aligners

Older patients who want a more discreet way to straighten their teeth may benefit from clear aligners. Sold under the brand name Invisalign, these aligners are hardly noticeable to the people around you yet they can achieve straighter teeth for patients who have mild to moderate correction needs.

Unlike traditional braces, aligners do not need to be adjusted but rather swapped out for a new set every two weeks. They must be removed for eating and drinking to keep the plastic in good condition, but other than that they need to be worn for at least 22 hours a day in order to be effective.

Using Lingual Braces For Orthodontic Treatment

If you want the effectiveness of metal braces, but do not want them to be so noticeable, inguinal braces are a good alternative. These braces are fitted to the back of your teeth, so they are also very discreet. They take some getting used to, as they are positioned in the same space your tongue would make contact with when you speak,  but if you want a discreet solution, lingual braces could benefit you.

Once your treatment plan is complete you can expect to wear a retainer at night for a few months. It is important to follow this step, as it can stop your teeth from moving back into their former positions.

To find out more about how to fix crooked teeth please contact us for an appointment: (02) 4210 9078.