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If your teeth are crooked,
turned, or overlapped, you are not alone-virtually 90% of the
population has an orthodontic condition known as crowding.
Generally caused by genetics (eg, a relatively small jaw or
relatively large teeth) or by habits such as nail biting and
thumb sucking, crowding is easily fixed with orthodontia.
Typical treatment for crowded teeth
involves the placement of highly detailed orthodontic "braces"
on all the upper and lower teeth. In adolescents or adults,
braces may be worn between two and three years, depending on how
crowded or misaligned the teeth are. Once the teeth are stable
in their alignment, the braces are removed, and a fixed retainer
is placed on the back of the lower teeth to hold them in place;
the upper teeth are held with a removable retainer. Retainers
are worn for two or more years depending on the severity of the
original condition. The lower retainer should be worn as long as
possible, as the highest chance of relapse occurs with the lower
front teeth.
When crowding is detected early
in children (when baby teeth are still present), a functional
appliance or braces can be placed so that when the baby teeth
fall out, the appliance/braces hold back the rest of the molars,
acting as a "spacer." The patient is instructed to turn the
appliance's screw each night, which slowly widens the upper jaw
in order to make room for the impending adult teeth. Although
the expansion process is achieved in approximately four months,
the appliance should be worn for the next six to nine months to
ensure maximum long-term results.
Whether braces, an oral
appliance, or extraction is used to reduce tooth crowding, your
orthodontist knows the quickest and most efficient way to
resolve your situation. Be sure to alert him or her to your
expectations and time constraints. Undoubtedly, a healthy smile
will follow.
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