Crowded teeth are teeth that have erupted too close together, resulting in crooked teeth and an abnormal bite. Crowded teeth can occur with baby teeth or with adult teeth. If a person has crowded teeth as a child, they are far more likely to have crowded teeth as their adult teeth erupt.
What can cause teeth crowding?
The causes of crowded teeth are almost always genetic. The upper and/or the lower jaw can be too small or the teeth themselves can be too large for an otherwise normal-sized jaw. Either problem can happen and can affect the way the teeth look. Other causes of overcrowded teeth include a cleft lip and palate, having extra teeth beyond the number of teeth you’re supposed to have, tumors of the mouth and jaw or problems with the position of the teeth after a jaw fracture that doesn’t heal well.
Typical Symptoms
Symptoms include abnormal bite and abnormal teeth alignment. The face itself can be abnormal in appearance, especially if the upper jaw (maxilla) and the lower jaw (mandible) are too small. There can be pain with chewing or biting things because of the malocclusion involved. You can rarely get abnormalities of the speech, such as a lisp. Mouth breathing can be a result of crowded teeth as well.
What complications can be?
If the teeth are too crowded, there is malocclusion of the teeth in most situations and there is a risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. There can be strain on the teeth and jaw muscles, which affect the temporomandibular joint or jaw joint. This can result in chronic headaches, cracking of the joint with chewing and other painful jaw disorders.
Can teeth crowding be prevented?
There are few ways to prevent crowded teeth. Dentists can do extraction of some teeth when a child is first getting teeth or when the adult teeth are coming in so that the rest of the teeth fit. It still might affect the bite but will help the new teeth coming in have space and not be crooked when they erupt.
What are the treatment options?
Sometimes the problem is minor and doesn’t need any official treatment. See an orthodontist to check if you need to have the problem treated. Sometimes the treatment involves removing some of the worst offenders in crowded teeth and using orthodontic appliances on the rest of the teeth to make them straight and keep teeth from being crooked.
Some teeth need wire metal bands and others may need ceramic or plastic bonds to attach to the surface of the teeth using wires or springs to force the teeth back into a proper position. Rough or irregular teeth may need to be reshaped, bonded or capped. Those restorations that are misshapen are repaired. Surgery may be required in some situations to increase the size of the jaw. Doctors can use wire plates and screws to stabilize the jaw bone, similar to the surgery used in a fractured jaw. Retainers can be used after the orthodontic appliances to keep the teeth in perfect alignment for several years.