North Sydney Orthodontics

Alignment problems bite problemsdental disease cosmetic improvement jaw pain

How to treat crooked teeth

Alignment Problems : tooth number, tooth eruption, position and size

These problems create a local irregularity within one or other jaw, and have only a minor effect on the bite of the teeth.  Treatment is usually achieved very reliably and efficiently using fixed appliances.BACK TO TOP

Missing teeth

Extra Teeth(supernumerary teeth)

Crowded, spaced and crooked teeth

Transposition - teeth swapped around in the wrong order

Impeded eruption of incisors

Ectopic canine teeth

Impeded second and third molars

Impeded first molar

Problems of the bite caused by imbalance of jaw size or shape

These problems are often quite complex and often have several different options for orthodontic treatment. In growing children growth modification (dento-facial orthopaedic therapy) is often employed to enhance the jaw growth, but once growth has ceased the options include moving the teeth to disguise the underlying jaw position (orthodontic camouflage) or jaw surgery.  Sometimes these problems are associated with major growth developmental anomalies such as cleft lip and cleft palate and other syndromes affecting the head and neck region. BACK TO TOP

Increased overjet : (prominent upper front teeth Class 2.1 and Class 2.2)

Reverse Overjet ( also called underbite or Class 3 bite)

Local Crossbite(teeth biting the wrong way around due to local crowding or irregularity)

Deep bite(deep overbite)

Open bite

Asymmetry

Problems caused by dental disease, dental injury and dental treatment

Even though dental health has improved a great deal over recent decades there are still occasions when teeth deteriorate to the point where extraction is unavoidable. This can have an impact on the position of the teeth and cause other problems later on. In the right situation orthodontic treatment can help to improve the overall result in combination with other forms of dental treatment. Occasionally orthodontic treatment offers an alternative option to more expensive treatment such as tooth replacement.BACK TO TOP

Tipped teeth following previous extractions

Drifting of teeth due to gum disease

Extrusion of teeth for bone development at implant sites

Space closure for teeth of poor prognosis

Cosmetic  treatment

Orthodontic treatment usually noticeably improves the appearance of the dentition, and very often this occurs as an added bonus to the dental health and functional benefits of treatment.  However some treatments derive primarily psycho-social benefit of having a more attractive smileBACK TO TOP

Smile enhancement and alignment of very mild crowding or irregularity

Jaw pain and its relationship to crooked teeth and orthodontics

Occasionally painful jaw joint symptoms are present or are the main reason for seeking orthodontic treatment. This is a complicated problem. Many factors can influence this complaint relating to the bite of the teeth, the jaw movement and especially stress. Occasionally the problem is due to disease of the joint surfaces or pain originating elsewhere in the head and neck region, and some practitioners believe the problem can relate to body posture (though the evidence for this belief is weak). There is no evidence to suggest that carefully planned and executed orthodontic treatment causes jaw joint problems and unfortunately not much evidence to suggest that it will cure the problem either. Patients suffering jaw joint pain may benefit from discussing this problem with a dentist (who may recommend a dental splint to relax the mouth muscles) or a chiropractor / physiotherapist who may undertake physical therapy for symptomatic relief.  Sometimes headaches are associated with this condition but headaches may also be a sign of other types of disease arising in the head and neck area which may require medical investigation. BACK TO TOP

© North Sydney Orthodontics 2009