Dental crowding
What is dental crowding?
Dental crowding is a misalignment and alignment problem that occurs when the arch does not have enough space to house all the teeth in the anatomically correct location. That is why when this happens, the teeth are forced to make room; displacing its closest neighbors who also push the next one, causing a crowd between them.
Without a doubt, dental crowding is not only an aesthetic case; It also has to do with a health and oral hygiene aspect, since this situation makes it difficult to properly clean the teeth, predisposing the appearance of cavities and periodontal problems.
Causes of tooth crowding
Premature loss of primary teeth.
When tooth replacement occurs too early, the maxilla or mandible may still be too small to accommodate permanent teeth; which of course are structurally larger.
Prolonged use of the pacifier or sucking on the finger.
As with other types of alterations in the dentition; These habits affect the correct eruption of the teeth and move the teeth to an undesirable position.
Incorrect eruption of teeth and / or wisdom teeth.
The so-called wisdom teeth, because they are the last to appear, may not find enough space to be located or may erupt incorrectly; pushing the rest of the teeth that are already aligned.
Previous orthodontic treatments.
Many patients who have completed some orthodontic treatment and do not wear retainers for the necessary time; finally they end up presenting cases of crowding, due to the teeth that try to return to their original position.
Supernumerary teeth.
Some people have an alteration that causes them to produce more teeth than normal; which obviously do not fit in your dental arch. That is why, in these cases, it is necessary to carry out the necessary extractions, always under the guidance of a specialist.
Genetics.
Even when none of the above conditions exist, there are people who simply have crowding due to a hereditary factor, and it is likely that, in these cases, their children also develop a certain predisposition to this problem.
Degrees of dental crowding and its treatment
While crowding can vary in complexity; there is a classification for it:
- Slight crowding. When the required interdental space along the arch is less than 3 mm.
- Moderate crowding. When it is necessary to achieve between 3 - 5 mm of space between the teeth.
- Severe crowding. When more than 6 mm are required for its solution.
In addition to the problems that have already been mentioned; uncorrected severe crowding can lead to TMJ alterations, chewing problems, and even wear of the patient's tooth enamel.
At the same time, for its treatment it is necessary to have the intervention of the orthodontic specialist.
Consequently, according to the type, origin and age of the patient; some extraction may be necessary. The stripping technique can also be applied; which consists of a special reduction of the interproximal spaces of the teeth, by means of a slight polishing that reduces measurements and favors a slight distance.
Continuing with this and once these techniques have been applied, some type of fixed orthodontics will probably be indicated; being eligible from interceptive orthodontic appliances in children; going through braces (traditional, ceramic, sapphire ...), to invisible systems (such as Invisalign) for treatments in adults.
Dental crowding in children
Although it is possible that the dental crowding present at any age; Children who are in the process of tooth replacement develop what is known as crowding in mixed dentition.
Basically it is a behavior that occurs because the development of the jaw has not been completed and as the permanent teeth emerge; These will require a larger space than the small milk teeth.
For this reason, it is important that children at this age receive an assessment and attend their dental check-up frequently; Since in some patients this normalizes as the bones grow, while in others it can get worse.
Recommendations
- If you have small children; Eliminate pacifier and / or bottle use as soon as possible.
- Control the habit of biting objects, nails or thumb sucking.
- Keep an eye on children to avoid trauma that affects the integrity of their teeth.
- Strengthens dental hygiene habits to prevent periodontal diseases, avoid cavities and prevent premature loss of teeth.
- Establish regular visits with the specialist as part of your routine, which will help to constantly monitor the evolution of your children's teeth and allow you to take corrective actions in a timely manner.
Do not hesitate to contact me!
If you want to ask me a particular query, you can fill out the following form
and we will gladly assist you.
In our Dental Clinic we are committed to your health and oral well-being.