What Does Crowding Teeth Mean?

Crowding Of Teeth

Properly aligned teeth are much easier to keep clean and healthy than crowded, overlapping teeth. Teeth that are crowded simply lack the space needed for them to come in straight. Crowding teeth is relatively common and, depending on the severity of your crowding, may or may not need to be straightened. Teeth crowding is measured on a mild to severe scale, and most patients who have mild crowding do not have a lot of trouble, whereas those with severe crowding may develop periodontal disease, experiencing a negative impact on their oral and overall health.

Do crowding teeth need to be corrected?

As we mentioned, whether or not you need to straighten crowded teeth depends on how severe your crowding is. Periodontal disease is a condition in which plaque and bacteria build up between the teeth and in the space between the gum tissue and the tooth, eventually calcifying into tartar. When tartar begins to build up in the gum pockets, it cannot be removed with brushing and flossing; it can only be cleaned out by a dental professional.

Periodontal disease can have a detrimental impact on oral health. In the early stages, periodontal disease presents as gingivitis, with tender, swollen gum tissue that bleeds upon brushing and flossing. Gingivitis can usually be cleared up with improved oral care. Left untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.

Periodontitis involves symptoms such as gum recession and bone loss. When the gum tissue is infected with tartar, it begins to pull away from the surface of the tooth, often exposing the roots, and can be very painful. Exposed to roots are usually very sensitive to the hot and cold temperatures of foods and beverages that we consume. If periodontitis is not treated, it will progress even further to advanced periodontitis.

Advanced periodontitis is much more difficult to treat and often requires the storage of treatments after infection is cleared. At this stage, patients are at risk of losing teeth due to deterioration of the gum and bone tissues. Often, patients need to have a bone or gum graft, and if a tooth is lost, they may need to have a dental implant placed to restore the area.

Good oral hygiene is the number one way to keep your teeth healthy and prevent any issues, and if your teeth are really crowded and overlapping, it can be very difficult to floss and brush well. Orthodontic treatment is a great way to straighten teeth with braces or clear aligners that gently shift and rotate teeth into alignment.

If you have crowding teeth that make oral hygiene difficult or simply make you uncomfortable with your smile, speak with your dentist to see if you should consider orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth. Some patients do not want to go through orthodontics and may choose to have porcelain veneers placed instead. This is a great option that can completely overhaul your smile and help keep everything healthy.

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