Misaligned teeth and jaws

Only a few people have naturally even teeth. Small deviations are usually harmless. More pronounced misalignments can, however, make cleaning harder and put strain on the jaw.

The forms it can take

With crowding, the teeth have too little room. They push over one another or turn. The opposite are gaps, when more space is left between the teeth than the jaw needs.

The bite can differ as well. With a crossbite, individual upper teeth bite past the lower ones on the inside. With an open bite, the front teeth do not meet, although the back teeth rest on each other. With an overbite, the upper front teeth project well over the lower ones.

Why this is more than a question of appearance

Crowded or rotated teeth are harder to keep clean. Plaque stays behind in these places, and decay or gum inflammation arise there more easily. An uneven bite also spreads the chewing pressure unevenly. Over time that can put strain on the jaw joints and the chewing muscles.

Correction with clear aligners

In adults we often work with clear splints, known as aligners, that is transparent plastic trays made to fit your teeth exactly. You wear one aligner for a set period and then move on to the next. Each aligner moves the teeth a small step further.

Aligners are removable, barely visible in everyday life and do not get in the way when you eat. They only work, though, if you wear them reliably. For mild to moderate deviations they are often a good route.

Further options

With pronounced misalignments, a fixed brace is often more suitable. It is bonded to the teeth and can also move them over greater distances. Small irregularities on the front teeth can sometimes be evened out with veneers, that is with wafer thin ceramic shells. They do not straighten the teeth, they only change their appearance.

We look at it together

What suits your case is something we clarify in conversation. We look at your teeth and your bite and tell you openly what is possible and what is not. Sometimes a referral to an orthodontic practice is the calmer route. We talk that through with you as well.