San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Covering your mouth when speaking, smiling, or yawning because of crooked teeth may be commonplace if you feel embarrassed by your teeth. Even though you may have had orthodontic treatment in the past to correct gaps or crooked teeth, the solution is not permanent. There are some situations as an adult that could cause crooked teeth regardless if you had braces when you were younger or not. Today on the blog, Bay Area dentists at Glen Park Dental share how adult teeth become crooked and options for correcting the problem.
Teeth Clenching and Grinding
Clenching and grinding your teeth typically occur while sleeping and is known as a condition called bruxism. When you clench your teeth, the extensive pressure can cause tooth sensitivity and possibly shift your teeth resulting in crooked teeth. Your Oakland family dentists at Glen Park Dental warn that bruxism could also chip or crack the enamel resulting in the need for dental care. Therefore, if you know that you suffer from bruxism or are experiencing dental pain, contact your dentists for an exam and treatment immediately.
Ill-fitting Restorations
Tooth restorations are the best way to restore your smile’s functionality and appearance when damage from trauma or decay occurs. Usually, restorations are custom designed to address your specific concerns and resemble your natural teeth. However, your professional dentists in San Francisco at Glen Park Dental advise that some restorations may fail or not fit appropriately. Unfortunately, the complications can shift teeth out of place, change your bite balance, or alter the overall functionality of your mouth. To avoid most complications, a board-certified dentist should administer your restoration treatment.
Tooth Loss
Losing your teeth does not only happen as a child. Whether through an accident, severe trauma, or extensive decay, adults can lose teeth as well. Losing a tooth not only affects the surrounding teeth, but it could have dramatic impacts on your gum and jawbone health. Once there is an open space, the teeth on either side may begin to shift to compensate, which typically leads to crooked or overcrowded teeth. Therefore, your leading dentists in Marin at Glen Park Dental recommend considering tooth replacement treatment, such as dental implants, when you lose a tooth to maintain proper oral health and bite balance.
Crooked Teeth Treatments
As your teeth begin to shift, it is essential to remember there are treatment options available to correct the condition. Your knowledgeable dentists in Oakland at Glen Park Dental can examine your teeth and recommend the best treatment for your concerns. Two of the most common treatments are traditional braces and Invisalign to realign crooked teeth. Traditional braces use wires, brackets, and small adjustments over time to address severely crooked teeth. However, Invisalign clear aligners are sets of clear aligners to gently force your teeth back into position. Instead of having metal wires adjusted, you switch to a new set of aligners until results are achieved. Whether you receive treatment using traditional braces or Invisalign will depend on your dental needs.
Tooth Alignment in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California
Flashing a smile with crooked teeth can reduce self-confidence and awkward social situations. Crooked teeth can lead to more complex dental problems such as advanced decay, tooth loss, and bite misalignment. Therefore, your San Francisco dentists at Glen Park Dental encourage you to schedule a consultation to address the misalignment in your smile before the conditions progress. Feel free to call our office at (415) 585-1500 or request a consultation online. We look forward to serving you in our Marin, Oakland, or San Francisco office!