Crowding & Spacing Teeth

Crowding Teeth

Crowding is the lack of space for all the teeth to fit normally within the jaws. The teeth may be twisted or displaced. Crowding occurs when there is disharmony in the tooth to jaw size relationship or when the teeth are larger than the available space. Crowding can be caused by improper eruption of teeth and early or late loss of primary teeth.

Crowding should be corrected because it can:

prevent proper cleaning of all the surfaces of your teeth
cause dental decay
increase the chances of gum disease
prevent proper functioning of teeth
make your smile less attractive

How can crowding be orthodontically corrected?

Extra space can be created by expansion of the dental arches, or in severe cases, by extraction of selected permanent teeth. Once space is created, braces will align the teeth. Correction of crowding can help prevent dental decay and periodontal disease by improving the ability to remove plaque from the teeth.

Spacing Teeth

Spacing, the opposite of crowding, is an excess of space for your teeth, resulting in gaps between your teeth. This generally occurs when the teeth are smaller than the available space. Spacing can also be caused by protrusive teeth, missing or impacted teeth, or abnormal tissue attachments to the gums.

This problem should be corrected because it can:

result in gum problems due to the lack of protection by the teeth
prevent proper functioning of the teeth
make your smile less attractive

How can spacing of the teeth be orthodontically corrected?

The spaces can be closed by moving the teeth together and properly aligning them within the arch.

Crowding & Spacing Teeth

To provide you with a better understanding of crowding and spacing teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation.

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