Aligning Teeth For a Gorgeous Smile

By M. S. Warshanna, DMD

Angel Dental Care

More Dental Health Articles

Aligning Teeth For a Gorgeous Smile

Malocclusion is the dental term for teeth that dont fit together properly; literally, malocclusion means “bad bite.” Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects malocclusions and brings your teeth into proper alignment.
Some people are lucky and naturally have straight teeth. Others arent as lucky. The size of your teeth and how they fit into your jaw are inherited traits, and malocclusion can often affect several generations. Besides genetics, malocclusions can also be caused by
Accidents or disease
A missing tooth, allowing the teeth around the open space to shift
Habits, such as thumb sucking, which can put pressure on teeth
There are many types of malocclusions. Your upper or lower jaw may be too far in or out. There may not be enough space in your mouth for your teeth to develop properly, leading to crowding. On the other hand, you might have too much space between your teeth, allowing them to shift, or your teeth may be in crossbite, which means that one or more of your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth.
A malocclusion that isnt corrected can really affect your profile and appearance. Poorly aligned teeth can also contribute to tooth decay, bone destruction, loss of teeth, and jaw-joint problems. These may in turn cause headaches, difficulty in opening and closing your mouth, clicking and popping sounds, and sore and painful jaw muscles.
Correcting your bite through orthodontic treatment can improve your dental health, and has the added bonus of boosting your self-confidence and giving you a terrific looking smile.

Braces used to be the only way to straighten teeth affected by malocclusion (a bad bite). But now, we have a system called Invisalign that allows us to straighten your teeth without using the brackets and wires of traditional braces.
The patented Invisalign system uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually reposition teeth. Weve chosen to offer the Invisalign system because the aligners are more visually appealing than braces. Theyre also removable, which makes it easier to clean your teeth after eating. The aligners are smooth and comfortable, and they dont irritate your gums, cheek, or tongue. The Invisalign system also eliminates any allergic reactions that you may experience with metal.