Alignment issues in the mouth take away from the beauty of a smile and make it more difficult to chew and to talk. They might also make a person more susceptible to developing cavities or periodontal disease. Keep reading to find out how overbites, underbites, and crowded teeth can affect your mouth and how your San Jose cosmetic dentist can help.
Overbites
This condition causes the top front teeth to extend past the lower teeth. Sometimes if the lower jaw is too small, it leads to an overbite. This condition might also occur if a person used a pacifier or sucked his or her thumb for too long. If your top teeth protrude over your bottom teeth, you should schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to learn about your treatment options and how they can shift your teeth into a better position.
Underbites
Underbites occur when the lower teeth extend past the upper teeth. This messes up the entire alignment of the jaw and makes it much more difficult to eat and to properly clean the teeth. If you are suffering with an underbite, your cosmetic dentist can find the right solution for you.
Crowding
Crowded teeth are almost impossible to clean, which puts a person at a much higher risk for tooth decay and periodontal disease. Crowded teeth might also lead to an impaction for another tooth. If a tooth becomes impacted, a dentist will need to extract it before it gets infected. If your mouth is too small for all of your teeth, you might have issues with crowding that affect the function and look of your smile.
Orthodontic Treatment
No matter your alignment issue, your cosmetic dentist has some orthodontic options that can help you improve your smile. Braces and Invisalign are designed to create the necessary improvements in a patient’s mouth. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to talk more about your alignment issues and how orthodontic treatment can shift your teeth into their correct position.
