Overcrowding of the teeth is a condition that can cause tooth misalignment, bite problems, digestive problems, mouth pain and other issues. Tooth overcrowding can sometimes be fixed with braces, but those who do not want to commit to braces may have other options.
If you’ve misaligned teeth, want to make them straight without using braces, consult Innovative Smile, dental clinic in Bhubaneswar. We offer retainers, Palatal expanders, appliances and clear aligners (e.g. Invisalign) etc for teeth straightening alternative to braces for misaligned teeth.
Restorative treatments including contouring, bonding, porcelain veneers, and crown work can also be used to lengthen teeth, widen teeth, or to replace missing tooth structures, creating a natural/aligned aesthetic.
CONSULT FOR STRAIGHT TEETH WITHOUT BRACES
Why Do Teeth Become Overcrowded?
Teeth become overcrowded for a variety of reasons. Sometimes this occurs when the jaw is underdeveloped; as teeth grow in, they literally run out of space. Other times, overcrowding occurs because the teeth and gums are growing at different rates. Tongue thrusts, lack of orthodontic care and even genetics can all contribute to overcrowding. This problem may become noticeable when the molars come in, or may not become an issue until much later in adulthood.
Teeth overcrowding can cause malocclusion, or misalignment. Malocclusion can lead to bite problems that can impact a person’s health. Often, overcrowding is what causes the teeth to become misaligned in adulthood.
You Might Not Want Braces, But You Need an Orthodontist
Braces are not always the solution to an overcrowded mouth. An adult who is suffering from overcrowded teeth should always consult with an orthodontist, even if they have no plans to get braces. Orthodontists know the best way to find treatments and devices that can help people who have an overcrowded mouth.
Often, the safest way to straighten teeth is through braces. Braces for adults often involve tooth extraction and oral surgery, while braces for children do not. In fact, in children braces are often the safest way to straighten teeth because they bypass the need for surgery. For children, braces are a fast and efficient way to straighten teeth. For adults, the opposite is true.
Straighter teeth – what issues can be corrected without braces?
Adults and teenagers alike often wish to achieve a naturally aligned healthy looking ‘perfect’ smile. Although this can be achieved through the use of traditional metal braces, many people wish to avoid the social stigma attached to a ‘brace face’ or ‘train track’ appearance during treatment. First, we must understand the dental issues that could lead people to ask how to straighten teeth without braces.
Dental issues that can be fixed or straightened without braces include:
- Physical injury to the teeth (e.g. chipped or cracked tooth)Where a patient suffers a severe physical injury to the teeth, chips and serious cracks can occur that can result in ‘angular’ edges giving the impression of misaligned teeth. Solving the issue to straighten teeth without braces could involve restorative treatment such as porcelain veneers or prosthetic crowns (please see treatments below).
- Overcrowding – where lack of space in the palate results in overlapping teethA skilled orthodontist can help patients to straighten teeth without braces in cases of overcrowding. Treatments such as bonded lingual retainers, palatal expanders, and clear aligners may be used to guide the teeth into a natural position, with results varying depending on the severity of the overcrowding (please see treatments below).
- Malocclusion (the upper and lower opposing teeth do not align)A malocclusion occurs where the dental arches of opposing upper and lower teeth do not align when the patient bites down. Minor cases may be treated via various methods, including retainers, clear aligners (e.g. Invisalign), and bonded retainers affixed to the back of the teeth.
- A narrow or underdeveloped palate forces teeth to grow out of positionStraightening teeth without braces is possible in the case of a narrow or underdeveloped palate through the use of a palatal expander. This treatment involves the use of a device to put gentle pressure on the palate to widen the upper jaw (also known as the maxilla), resulting in alignment of the upper and lower teeth.
Ways to Straighten Teeth Without Braces
There are several ways to straighten teeth without braces. Knowing your options is important as you and your orthodontist decide on proper treatment.
Retainers
Retainers function very much like braces, moving teeth slowly over time. Retainers are unlike braces in that they are removable. Retainers are made from metal wires and acrylic. They’re formed to the shape of your mouth.
Some retainers are only worn at night, others are worn during the day and at night. Some retainers are never removed because they are fixed in your mouth; others can be removed at meals or for tooth cleaning. Your orthodontist can help you decide which type of retainer is best for you.
Retainers are sometimes used after braces to keep the teeth in their proper formation once the braces have done their job. Other times, retainers are used instead of braces because it’s only necessary to correct the placement of one or two teeth.
Appliances
Appliances straighten the teeth by correcting jaw imperfections. Appliances are designed to attach to the teeth and curve along the inside of the mouth. Appliances can come in different forms to correct different problems inside the jaw.
Like a retainer, each appliance is custom fit to the inside of the mouth. Appliances are custom designed by orthodontic professionals to ensure they’re correct for the patient. Appliances can generally correct or straighten teeth more quickly than braces, and are easier to install.
Clear aligners (e.g. Invisalign)
It is possible to straighten your teeth without getting traditional braces. There’s a product called Invisalign®, which are clear aligners that are removable. clear aligners look like very thin, very clear mouthguards. Those can work very well at straightening your teeth.
Aligners are the easiest way to straighten teeth without braces. Aligners are the only option that is virtually invisible to others. These plastic, customized pieces fit directly over the teeth and help the teeth fit into the shape that they would ideally take.
Clear aligners make eating and drinking easier, because they can be removed for meals. They’re easy to clean and can be taken out whenever needed.
Aligners can also be less expensive than braces, and in the case of mildly misaligned teeth, aligners can correct a problem in a relatively short period. They’re not right for everyone, however. Aligners are clear plastic. They can be misplaced or forgotten, where braces cannot. And, if they’re not worn for a certain length of time every day, aligners may not be an effective way to correct teeth.
Palatal expanders
Palatal expanders are often used in child patients to help straighten teeth without braces. Where the child’s palate is not of sufficient size to house all incoming adult teeth, a palatal expander is used to widen the arch of the mouth. The expander is anchored into place by two brackets fixed to the upper rear molars.
Porcelain veneers
Another alternative to braces and aligners for mild orthodontic issues is dental veneers. These are thin coverings, usually made from porcelain or composite resin, that can be bonded to the front of your teeth to change the look of your smile. Veneers are primarily a cosmetic change and may not offer the same potential health benefits of more in-depth orthodontic treatment.
Porcelain veneers may be used to give the appearance of straight teeth without braces. This treatment may be an option where a patient declines braces/treatment with an orthodontist and opts instead for cosmetic dental work that uses veneers to give the appearance of straight teeth.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve taken some time to consider different ways to fix crowded teeth without braces, you can consult Innovative Smile.
Our individualized treatment plans help our patients achieve their perfect smile in the quickest, most painless way possible by utilizing a wide range of options from traditional braces to retainers and aligners.
