Malocclusion is a very common dental problem that usually presents as misaligned or crooked teeth. While crooked teeth are not painful, they can result in difficulty maintaining oral hygiene, speech impediments, breathing issues, poor aesthetic appearance, etc. Given below is a brief overview of malocclusion, its treatment options, etc.
Malocclusion simply means misaligned teeth. Occlusion is the alignment of the upper and lower teeth in relation to each other. In addition to misaligned teeth, malocclusion can also occur if your upper and lower jaws aren’t aligned properly. It is usually hereditary or environmental, but in some cases, it can be caused due to poor oral health and hygiene habits.
Most people regard malocclusion as simply having crooked or misaligned front teeth, but there are different types of malocclusion that can affect a person’s life in many ways.
Overbite
Anterior or posterior crossbite
Spacing
Overcrowding
Open Bite
Malocclusion is easily visible and can often be self-diagnosed. If your teeth are misshapen, misaligned, or if you can’t rest your jaws on top of each other with all occlusal teeth surfaces in contact, then it is a safe bet that you have a malocclusion.
It is localized malocclusion caused due to displaced, missing, abnormal, or impacted teeth. It usually presents with a normal molar relationship but localized misalignment like maxillary protrusion, overlapped or overcrowded teeth, rotated teeth, etc.
While malocclusion itself is not painful, it can lead to other tooth and bone issues, leading to discomfort in a roundabout way. Some of the complications of malocclusion are:
You can follow the given tips to prevent malocclusion:
Myth: Any dentist can treat a malocclusion.
Fact: While any dentist can perform a diagnostic evaluation for your crooked teeth and explain your treatment options to you, you need an orthodontist for a comprehensive and proper treatment of crooked teeth.
Myth: Orthodontic treatment is performed only in teenagers.
Fact: Age does not matter too much when it comes to orthodontic treatment. While braces were only performed for teenagers in the past, nowadays, even people in their 30s and 40s are getting braces treatment for a better smile.
Myth: Orthodontic treatments take too long to be effective.
Fact: Complete orthodontic treatment takes around 10-18 months. The braces start fixing the teeth slowly and steadily immediately after they are applied, and you can notice most of the facial and dental changes made by braces within 2-3 months of starting the treatment.
Myth: Braces are painful.
Fact: You can experience sharp pain due to braces, but it is very rare. Most of the time, if pain occurs, it is very bearable and at most, you will experience minor discomfort.
Myth: Metal braces are the only treatment option.
Fact: Nowadays, in addition to metal braces, there are several other treatment options like aligners, ceramic braces, lingual braces, etc., that provide the same correction but are more aesthetically pleasing.
Myth: Braces can weaken the teeth and lead to tooth loss.
Fact: If dental braces are kept on for too long, they can lead to root resorption and tooth loss, but that is extremely rare, and if the dentist is experienced, you will have no problem.
Aishwarya Rai: Known for her effervescent smile, Aishwarya Rai is one of the most celebrated and beautiful women in the world. She benefitted dental braces treatment for her perfect smile.
Priyanka Chopra: Crowned as Miss World in 2000, Priyanka Chopra’s smile has dazzled people all over the world. She is one of the biggest names in both Bollywood and Hollywood alike.
Shruti Hassan: Shruti Hassan is easily one of the most recognizable and beloved actresses in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. Her beautiful and perfect smile has dazzled her fans ever since they first saw her.
Shreyas Talpade: Shreya Talpade and his perfect smile has made us all laugh at some point in our lives. He also underwent braces treatment as a child.
Rajneesh Duggal: Crowned as Mr. India in 2003, Rajneesh Duggal is known for his smoldering looks in both his modeling and acting career.
You can get orthodontic treatment at any stage of life, but generally, the earlier it is, the easier it becomes to adjust and correct tooth positioning. The best age for orthodontic treatment is 10-14 years old, as during this time, the jaw is still developing, and teeth are still erupting. You should contact a dentist or orthodontist if you have:
The best option for long-term correction of malocclusion is through orthodontic treatment or dental braces. In conjunction with braces, if the patient has a severely retrognathic or prognathic jaw, they may also need jaw augmentation surgery. The cost of dental braces treatment for you depends on the following factors:
Consult the best orthodontists near you to get a better estimate of the cost and duration of your treatment.
Since orthodontic treatments like dental braces are largely aesthetic in nature and are availed by patients for better aesthetic appearance, they are classified as elective treatments. Some insurance might cover you if you’ve had an accident and are getting orthodontic treatment to mitigate the damage to your teeth. Some health insurance plans also cover dental braces for children under the age of 18. However, you need to discuss this thoroughly with your insurance provider before beginning your treatment.
No, teeth are generally not trimmed during orthodontic treatment, as braces are placed on top of the dental surface. Instead of trimming, dental spacers are used to create space between the teeth and in severe cases of overcrowding, tooth extraction may also be performed.
Orthodontic extraction, i.e., dental extraction for orthodontic treatments, is performed if the patient has overcrowding and the dentist needs extra space to properly align the teeth.
You should start getting orthodontic consultations for your children as soon as they turn 6 months old and get tooth spacers or oral habit-breaking appliances, as necessary, but you do not need to get orthodontic treatment for your child’s milk teeth.
Yes, often our facial shape can be asymmetrical due to misaligned teeth and dental braces can increase facial symmetry by correcting dental malocclusion.
Yes, if you get braces, you need to brush your teeth after every meal or snack. Additionally, you should also keep a mouthwash and properly rinse your mouth every time you eat or drink something.
There are several other treatments like dental capping, veneers, composite bonding, etc., that can help close small gaps between teeth, but for considerable spaces, braces are the best treatment.
On average, patients are advised to wear their retainers for at least 12-14 months after the treatment, out of which they have to wear retainers full time for the first 4-6 months.
