SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ CA
Cooked teeth can cause you to be cautious about how you speak or smile. Sometimes, you may cover your mouth with your hand when talking or laughing out loud to avoid being embarrassed. Whether your teeth have been crooked since childhood, or shifted during adulthood, crooked teeth could cause you to feel embarrassed. There are several reasons that cause adult teeth to shift. Missing teeth could cause teeth to shift and become crooked or gapped. Also, untreated orofacial myofunctional disorders, such as mouth breathing, tongue thrust, and tongue-tie affect tooth alignment and could cause orthodontic relapse later in life.
Your professional dentists in Scotts Valley at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry share three things you should know about crooked teeth and how to correct them.
Adult Tooth Movement
Although most orthodontic correction occurs during childhood, the correction is not permanent, and your teeth could move as an adult. Adult tooth movement is typically the result of an external influence or an oral health condition that causes the teeth to shift and become misaligned. Orofacial myofunctional disorders typically develop during infancy or at a young age. Even if you had braces as a teen, your teeth might become crooked as an adult. The reason for this is because the orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) itself was never treated. For instance, if you have tongue thrust, the tongue moves in an incorrect pattern, it pushes against the upper front teeth. Over time, and even after orthodontics, your front teeth may shift or become gapped. The best way to prevent this from occurring is to treat the OMD. Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry offers myofunctional therapy, which is like physical therapy for your tongue and lips, to retrain the oral muscles to function and rest properly. Once the OMD is addressed, you could look into orthodontics to straighten your teeth once and for all.
Crooked Teeth Effect More Than Your Smile
Crooked teeth may cause you to be self-conscious when smiling. However, the aesthetics are only a portion of the negative impact your crooked teeth can have on your oral health. Correcting your smile through traditional braces or Invisalign clear aligners will not only straighten your smile but prevent many common oral health complications that occur with crooked teeth. Your leading Santa Cruz cosmetic dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry warn that avoiding corrective action for your crooked teeth could lead to additional oral health problems. For example, bite problems, substantial tooth damage, excessive strain on your jaw, and hard to clean areas where bacteria tend to build can cause the need for additional dental procedures costing extra time and money. Therefore, if you have crooked teeth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Max or Dr. Ariana so that proper treatment can correct your smile and protect your oral and overall health.
Braces May Not Be Necessary
In the past, traditional braces were the only method available for straightening your teeth. Today, patients suffering from severe misalignment benefit greatly from wearing traditional braces, no matter if they are teens or adults. However, you may be a candidate for clear aligner treatment that can straighten crooked teeth without the wires and brackets. Invisalign, offered by your Scotts Valley family dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, realign your teeth using gentle pressure over time without embarrassment. Since the aligners are removable when eating, drinking, and cleaning your teeth, Invisalign is an excellent choice if you are looking to correct your smile and improve your oral health discreetly.
Crooked Teeth in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California
The appearance of your smile can make a difference in your level of self-confidence. If you have crooked teeth and would like to explore treatment options, feel free to call Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry at (831) 438-4411 or request an appointment online today. We love to serve the communities of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California.
