Not long ago, the go-to overcrowding teeth treatment in Richmond, Texas involved extracting healthy teeth to create space. However, once a tooth is removed, it’s gone for good.
Today, advancements in orthodontic technology and increased affordability have made braces, Invisalign, and other corrective treatments the preferred solutions for preserving natural teeth. In fact, over 40% of teens undergo orthodontic care, and more adults than ever are choosing overcrowding teeth treatment as a way to enhance both their oral health and confidence.
At Elara Orthodontics, we provide customized solutions for kids and adults to achieve a beautifully aligned smile without unnecessary extractions.
What do orthodontists do for overcrowding teeth treatment
Orthodontists are dentists with additional education who specialize in the treatment of misaligned teeth. After examining your teeth they create a treatment plan for correcting your problem. Following the plan, they use various devices (e.g. braces for overcrowding teeth treatment) to move your crooked teeth very gradually over time into their proper alignment so that your bite is normal and comfortable. This procedure usually takes 1 to 3 years to complete.
They also treat jaw pain, gum disease, or sleep apnea.
What are orthodontists’ qualifications?
An orthodontist will usually have completed 10 or 11 years of classroom and clinical education to be certified to practice orthodontic dentistry. After a four-year undergraduate degree, they will enter a four-year graduate dental school consisting of two years of specialized coursework classroom education plus two years of supervised clinical experience.
Regular dentists will then receive their Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and pass the National Board of Dental Examinations state and clinical tests. They are then licensed to practice dentistry.
Orthodontists must go further with a residency program of two or three years where they will learn the physics of how teeth are moved. They learn by observing and assisting practicing orthodontists in a clinical environment. As a results it is best to go to an orthodontist for overcrowding teeth treatment.
What are teeth crowding symptoms?
The most troublesome symptom of teeth crowding is malocclusion (i.e. misaligned teeth). Malocclusion is the most common dental problem treated by orthodontists. Overcrowded teeth result from the simple fact that there is not enough room in your mouth for your teeth because your teeth are too big, too many, or your jaw is too small. Sometimes, a severe case can see very overcrowded teeth.
If you have a proper occlusion, you’re fortunate because your teeth are well-aligned, and your upper and lower teeth fit together correctly when you close your mouth. That is, they close comfortably without uneven pressure on other teeth or your jawbone.
If your teeth are not properly aligned the condition is called ‘malocclusion’. An orthodontist’s principal practice is the correction of malocclusion and overcrowding teeth. Overcrowded teeth are not just a form of malocclusion but also one of the major causes of other forms of malocclusion.
Malocclusion takes different forms resulting in different kinds of bad ‘bites”. The common types of bad bites are
Crossbite
You have a crossbite when some but not all of your top front teeth or back teeth are inside your bottom teeth.
Crossbites can cause your jaw to shift to one side giving a lopsided appearance, as well as uneven wear on enamel.
Underbite
With an underbite, your lower jaw rests in front of your upper jaw. Your lower teeth are thus jutting out in front of your upper teeth.
An underbite creates stress and pain in jaw (TMJ) joints as well as cosmetic issues.
Open bite
In normal occlusion, your back teeth mesh comfortably together while your upper front teeth (being larger) overlap slightly your bottom front teeth.
In the case of an anterior open bite, your back teeth mesh together properly but your front teeth do not overlap.
You have a posterior open bite when your front teeth properly mesh but your back teeth do not meet.
These open bite conditions can cause swallowing difficulty or speech impediment.
Deep bite
A deep bite is a problem when your front teeth overlap the bottom front teeth too much. In a severe deep bite, your bottom teeth can be totally covered up.
The complications include teeth biting into your lower gums and your lower teeth cutting your mouth roof. As a result, you can develop pain, gum disease, or undue enamel wear.
Spacing
The opposite of overcrowding teeth is too much space between teeth. It can be caused by missing teeth, undersized teeth, oversized jawbones, or all of the above. Gum disease and irritation can result.
What causes malocclusion?
Genetics, extra teeth, impacted teeth, abnormal tooth shape, and jaw fractures can all contribute to crowded teeth. Misalignment after an injury can also lead to crowding. Other malocclusions often result from genetic factors, overcrowded or missing teeth, or previous extractions. Habits like thumb sucking and pacifier use can also contribute to misalignment.
How are malocclusions and overcrowding teeth corrected?
How do you fix overcrowded teeth? The principal tools of an orthodontist are various orthodontic appliances made of various materials and methods.
How do braces work on crowded teeth? The purpose of the devices is to very slowly over many months move teeth into the optimal alignment and fix overcrowded teeth.
The process takes a long time because of the mechanics of the process. When a tooth or teeth are moved they leave a gap in the gum and bone. The gap must be healed and filled before another movement is attempted. If the tooth is moved too far in a single move or too soon before the next adjustment the tooth does not stabilize. As a result, the realignment does not have a long-lasting effect.
Hence, orthodontal treatments must necessarily occur with several adjustment visits over the course of several months or even years.
Saving a tooth is always preferred over an extraction. Manual realignment of very crowded teeth is sometimes workable. However, very crowded teeth might need either surgery or extraction.
Braces for overcrowding teeth treatment
Braces are the most commonly used appliance for correcting overcrowded teeth and malocclusions. They come in various materials and designs, including:
- Metal
- Ceramics
- Self-ligating braces
- Lingual braces
- Clear aligners like Invisalign.
The most common corrective devices are forms of braces for crowded teeth consisting of:
- Brackets attached (glued) to the front of each of your teeth.
- Wires connected to each of the brackets.
- Rubber bands to hold the wire to the brackets.
At each periodic visit to your orthodontist, they will tighten the wires very slightly to pull and reposition your misaligned teeth. This tension will move your teeth in your gums and bone. At Elara, we make these adjustments durable by minimizing the gap left behind during each visit. This approach allows your tissue and bone to heal and fill the space gradually, ensuring a stable and lasting correction.
Variations of braces
At Elara, we use traditional braces made of stainless steel brackets, wires, and tiny rubber bands. Alternatively, you can choose brackets made of tooth-colored ceramics for a more discreet appearance.
Self-ligating braces use a different kind of ligation method for fixing the wire to the brackets. Traditional ligature employs rubber bands. Self-ligating braces employ a different system for binding the wire to the brackets. They still need periodic tightening adjustments.
At Elara, lingual braces use the same materials as traditional braces, but we bond the brackets to the inside of your teeth, keeping them completely out of sight for a more discreet treatment option.
Invisalign for Overcrowding Teeth Treatment
Personal appearance is a major consideration, particularly for teenagers whose self-esteem is so fragile during those years. Things are different these days when almost half of the teen population have an orthodontal correction. Kids now experience less stigma from braces. For some, they are a badge of honor.
Nevertheless, experts are always developing ways to provide more aesthetic devices to correct a malocclusion. Recently, clear aligners (e.g., Invisalign) are becoming more popular.
How Invisalign Works
They are devices for straightening misaligned teeth without the use of metal braces. They are made from BPA-free plastic. There are no wires or brackets. As such, they are more comfortable than metal braces. The plastic material is clear, so they are almost invisible.
Invisalign adjustment involves replacing aligners as your teeth gradually shift into place. At Elara, we start by taking a mold of your teeth to create a custom aligner that guides your teeth through the initial movement.At each visit, you receive a new aligner that gently guides your teeth through the next phase of your treatment plan, ensuring steady and controlled progress toward proper alignment.
Treatment Time and Effectiveness
Clear aligners typically straighten teeth in less time than metal braces. That might be attributable to the fact that they are suitable only for malocclusions of mild to moderate severity. Correction of more severe cases will naturally take longer or require metal braces.
Moreover, remember that speed is not necessarily a benefit for a particular teeth-moving procedure. For a durable correction of malocclusion, there must be sufficient time between adjustments for the gap and trauma left behind each tooth movement to heal and fill in.
Patient Commitment is Key
Another important consideration is that clear aligners like Invisalign require greater discipline from the patient to ensure effectiveness. Unlike metal braces, clear aligners are removable, meaning their success depends on consistent wear. Patients must follow a strict daily routine for optimal results. Teenagers, in particular, may struggle with this level of diligence. If you don’t wear your aligners regularly, they won’t move your teeth correctly, which can delay or compromise your treatment outcome.
Other appliances
At Elara, you wear a headgear attached to the outside of your head, typically at night, as a supplemental device to support your orthodontic treatment. Its primary purpose is to maintain the tension of your braces, helping guide tooth and jaw alignment.
Retainers help preserve the results of a completed realignment. Made from plastic molded to fit your teeth, they are usually removable and worn only at night to prevent teeth from shifting back.
A twin-block appliance gradually moves the lower jaw forward, improving bite alignment and jaw positioning. Patients wear it full-time, except during cleaning, and its smooth, comfortable acrylic ensures ease of use and comfort.
What is the cost for overcrowding teeth treatment?
The cost of braces hardware is coming down. Presently it is in the neighborhood of $2,000. Add to that the cost of your orthodontist’s expertise, time, and overhead.
Total costs vary depending on the materials and procedures used. The range of prices are:
- Metal braces: $3,000 to $7,000
- Ceramic braces: $4,000 to $8,000
- Lingual braces: $8,000 to $10,000
- Invisalign: $4,000 to $7,400
When your orthodontist evaluates your case they will prepare a plan that lays out the expected number of visits for installation and periodic adjustments. It will include a budget. If you pay it all upfront you may get a discount. Some orthodontists accept payment plans. Others might introduce you to third-party financing alternatives.
Learn more about cost of braces in Richmond.
Where to go for overcrowding teeth treatment in Houston, TX Area
Children need close attention to their oral health and teeth development. Almost half of all kids require orthodontic intervention to avoid or correct overcrowding and malocclusion. Those conditions pose not just cosmetic issues but gum disease, cavities, and other oral health problems.
At Luna Pediatric Dentistry in Richmond, TX our staff has many years of experience in addressing common orthodontic problems of children. We provide early dental care, restorative dental services, sedation dentistry, and emergency care.
If you are wondering where can I find an orthodontist near me we are among the best orthodontics in Richmond, TX and we also serve patients in the 77407 zip code area. We also have on our staff a Sugar land orthodontist.
Bring your child in for a checkup. We are experts at working with kids.