Straightening crooked and misaligned teeth with OrthoFX and a your doctor will help achieve the perfect smile and also help in maintaining good oral hygiene. However, before your consult with a dentist or orthodontist , it is helpful to have an idea of what constitutes crooked teeth and the types of conditions that can be treated with clear aligners (also called “malocclusion”).

Crooked teeth: Types and issues

Depending on their severity, the most common types of teeth misalignments are:

• Crowding: Overlapping of teeth due to lack of space

• Crossbite: One tooth or multiple teeth bite the inside of the lower teeth or visa versa.

• Overbite: Upper front teeth vertically overlap lower front teeth

• Underbite: Lower front teeth are in front of your upper front teeth

• Open bite: When upper and lower teeth don’t overlap vertically

• Gap Teeth: When there’s extra space between two or more teeth; the opposite of crowded teeth

The above issues could contribute to a number of dental problems, including plaque, tooth decay, gum disease, chewing difficulties, excessive tooth wear as well as speech impediments.

Causes of crooked teeth

Both permanent teeth and baby teeth can be crooked and the factors that can be attributed to this are genetics, childhood habits like thumb sucking, injury leading to missing teeth, and disproportionate jaw width, and lack of space in your arch form.

Clear aligners for treatment

With a number of treatment options for crooked teeth, clear aligners have become cwet popular over the years for multiple reasons such as ease of use, comfort level and minimal lifestyle changes. Although initially believed to be best for treating mild to moderate misalignment, most clear aligners now can treat even severe teeth alignment issues. In fact, clear aligners by OrthoFX can treat most comprehensive cases, as well. Your doctor will help you decide the best treatment path.

How does it work?

An orthodontist or dentist will provide a complimentary consultation to assess the severity of a patient’s orthodontic issue with the help of digital x-rays and scans and dental health examination. After a treatment plan has been developed with OrthoFX and the doctor, a series of customized clear aligners will be manufactured based on the virtual model of the teeth. Clear aligners are removable plastic trays/molds that fit onto the patient’s teeth and apply a gentle push force to initiate tooth movement. The aligners have to be changed every week. For best results, clear aligners should to be worn for at least 22 hours a day. Average treatment times takes between 6 months to 2 years based on the severity of the orthodontic issues. Good news, visible results start showing quite early- week by week.

The pros and cons

Clear aligners have gained popularity due to a number of reasons. The fact that it can be worn without anyone noticing its presence in the mouth has been a major game-changer. An almost painless treatment, easy maintenance of oral hygiene and no major lifestyle changes are the other advantages. As far as teeth straightening is concerned, clear aligner have major advantages – the only real life adjustment is compliance is key (wearing the aligners 22 hours a day) to successful treatment outcomes. Teeth straightening is more than just a cosmetic concern; it is, in fact, a necessity for long term oral health. It is important to note: treatment without proper doctor diagnosis could lead to more harm than good. Leave it to the dental experts at OrthoFX. For an informed decision, book an appointment with an orthodontist or dentist at OrthoFX and experience the positive journey towards a flawless smile.