Why teeth grow crooked: how to align teeth?

Unfortunately, nature has not given even teeth to everyone. And if the milk teeth are even in most children, then when changing milk teeth to permanent ones, it becomes obvious: the teeth grow crookedly in a significant number of adolescents. Parents should think about how to correct crooked teeth, since an incorrect bite is not only a cosmetic defect, it is a defect that can lead to diseases of the digestive system and diseases of the jaw joints.

The question why teeth grow crooked and others is answered by our expert – the founder and chief physician of the clinic La peregrina Natalia Kadkalova.

How is a malocclusion formed? Who’s guilty?

There are skeletal and dental alveolar malocclusions. The reason for the formation of skeletal anomalies is, as a rule, genetics. But even this is fixable if, knowing about the consequences, the parents bring the child to an orthodontist to control the changes and timely intervention. Therefore, it is recommended to show the child to an orthodontist, aged 4 to 6 years.

Now we are talking about a permanent bite, about that closure with which we live all our lives. Note that the only bone in the skull that is mobile is the lower jaw. And it finds its correct position at the moment of the formation of the “occlusion key”, when the first permanent molars erupt – teeth with a pronounced anatomy (tubercles and fissures), thanks to which the lower jaw finds its place. This occurs at the age of 6-7 years.

But bite is not only about teeth. The type of breathing of the child is important, therefore it is necessary to explain to the child that it is necessary to breathe through the nose. And be sure to turn to the ENT, if there are problems with nasal breathing and sleep apnea appears. In addition to the fact that during nasal breathing, the nasal passages and sinuses are formed correctly, the upper jaw is also formed, since it is an integral part of the bottom of the nasal cavity and the maxillary sinus.

So, in the formation of the correct bite, it is important: chewing load on the jaws for their full development, teeth contacts – the “occlusion key”, correct nasal breathing. In addition, muscle balance is important, because the formation of the bite also depends on the muscle tone of the tongue and the orbicular muscle of the mouth.

But there are other reasons why teeth may not grow properly – the so-called external factors. In particular, this is a violation of the diet and various bad habits.

In order for the dentoalveolar apparatus to develop correctly, it must be trained: as soon as the baby’s first teeth appear, it is necessary to teach him to chew rough, tough food. The child must bite, gnaw, chew – only then his teeth and tissues surrounding the teeth will be strengthened.

The negative habits of the child can also influence the formation of the bite. It turns out that if the baby bites his nails, sucks his finger, does not part with the pacifier for a long time, he is threatened with an incorrect bite. Because all these actions provoke tooth misalignment.

If, nevertheless, the teeth began to grow crooked, you should not be upset, because modern orthodontics (the field of dentistry that deals with occlusion correction) knows the answer to the question of how to align the teeth, and offers a wide range of special techniques – from ordinary massage with slight curvature of the teeth to non-removable orthodontic systems, with the help of which even an adult can correct the bite.

Of course, the patient chooses the method of correction only together with the doctor.

The most common systems are plates, aligners and braces. Plates are usually shown to children, often when changing teeth from milk to permanent. Mouth guards are individual caps that are worn for several hours a day, they are usually prescribed for permanent teeth with minor deformities of the bite. Braces are non-removable systems that are attached to the teeth by applying pressure to them and moving them in the desired direction. Braces are prescribed for adolescents and adults.

How to fix crooked teeth and can it be done without braces?

Our expert Maria Lisovskaya answered these questions.

Dentist-orthodontist of the European Medical Center, doctor of the highest category, Ph.D.

The way to correct crooked teeth depends on the age of the patient and the type of anomaly. So, for children, orthodontic treatment is carried out using various removable and non-removable devices, such as trainers, removable plate devices, non-removable expansion devices, removable aligners. However, such treatment is effective up to a certain age – up to 10-12 years. During this period, the child develops a permanent bite, which can be corrected using braces or transparent removable aligners.

Correct development, elimination of bad habits, observation of an otorhinolaryngologist can lead to self-regulation of emerging occlusion anomalies in some cases. Therefore, it is worth seeking advice from an orthodontist from an early age.

You can become the owner of a beautiful smile even in adulthood. In order to align the dentition and eliminate malocclusion in adults, aligner systems, braces (vestibular or lingual) are used. In the case of complex maxillofacial pathologies, combined treatment with jaw surgery can be used.