For some people, having crooked teeth can be a dilemma. Crooked teeth can boost one's confidence, but on the other hand, they can also cause jaw pain. So, is it really necessary to remove crooked teeth?
What Are Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth is a condition in which your canine teeth grow later. Normally, it takes 10 months from the release of milk canine teeth to the development of permanent canine teeth. Because of the long time gap, other teeth replaced the new canine teeth.
As a result, when the canine teeth start to emerge, they do not have a natural place to grow. This causes the buck teeth to grow out of alignment with the rest of the teeth. This is known as crooked teeth.
Causes of Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth can be caused by a variety of factors, including premature loss of baby teeth. When baby teeth (canines) develop and fall out due to trauma, the doctor may recommend extraction. However, the sudden loss of baby teeth leaves not enough room for permanent teeth to grow, causing the teeth to become crowded.
Risks of Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth may provide you a unique look. Because it can boost their self-confidence, it is not unusual for people to keep their crooked teeth in place. However, having crooked teeth isn't always comfortable for some people. People with crooked teeth may encounter the following possible dental and oral health issues:
- Tooth impaction, where the tooth becomes trapped in the gum and doesn’t grow properly
- Pain and difficulty chewing
- Accumulation of plaque, which can lead to tooth decay
- Pressure on the jaw, teeth, and mouth muscles
- Inability of the teeth to function optimally
Should Crooked Teeth Be Removed?
In general, it is preferable to treat crooked teeth if their position actually impairs their ability to function and makes it difficult to clean between them and crooked gums.
Among the methods for treating crooked teeth are:
Braces
In mild cases of crooked teeth, where the growth of the teeth is not too advanced and has not deviated significantly from the normal arrangement of teeth, braces are typically an option. Before putting the braces on, the doctor will determine whether or not tooth extraction is necessary.
The purpose of tooth extraction is to allow the crooked teeth to grow normally and to prevent overcrowding. The reasoning behind braces is to restore the teeth to their natural position by extracting them first.
Aligners
In addition to braces, crooked teeth can be treated with aligners. Unlike braces, which cannot be removed without the expertise of a doctor, aligners can typically be removed at any time, making eating and cleaning the mouth easier.
However, because aligners can be removed and placed, their effectiveness in straightening teeth is less than that of braces.
Tooth Extraction
If the crooked teeth cause dental or oral problems, such as gingivitis, the doctor may recommend you have them removed. This is because gingivitis can progress to more severe gingivitis (periodontitis) and foul breath.
Furthermore, crooked teeth should be extracted if the two teeth surrounding the crooked teeth are extremely close together and there is no room for the crooked teeth to grow.
Crooked teeth can be attractive. However, if crooked teeth put at risk your dental and oral health, you should see a dentist to determine the best treatment for your crooked teeth condition.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr Anita Larasati Priyono
WebMD Editorial Contributors. Dental Health With Crooked Teeth and Misaligned Bites. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/crooked-teeth-misaligned-bites#1
Whelan, C. (2019). What Causes Crooked Teeth and How to Straighten Them. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/crooked-teeth
Napitu., Nalchajian, G., Yusupov. (2022). Types of Malocclusion and How to Fix Crooked Teeth. Available from: https://www.dentaly.org/en/malocclusion-crooked-teeth/