by Malavi Sivakanesan • 14 February 2025 • 6 min read
Having a healthy smile is not just about how white your teeth are but also about how well-aligned they are. Misaligned teeth can definitely break your confidence, but they can also lead to other issues like difficulty in cleaning, increased risk of cavities, and even jaw pain. And, of course, not everyone is born with perfectly aligned teeth. The misalignment, known as crowded teeth, happens due to various factors such as genetics, jaw size, and oral habits. The good news is that with modern dental technology, crowded teeth are completely fixable. So, if you’re struggling with overcrowded teeth, keep reading to learn everything about fixing overcrowded teeth in adults.
What are Crowded Teeth?
Crowded teeth, also known as dental crowding, is a condition that occurs when there is insufficient space in the jaw for teeth to grow in the right position. Naturally, a tooth should have enough space to grow, or else it can become misaligned, overlapping or twisting in different directions.
The severity and specific cases of dental crowding can vary, ranging from mild misalignment to complex overlapping that may require orthodontic intervention. This condition can make cleaning, chewing, and speaking difficult for you. Crowded teeth can also impact your confidence by ruining the appearance of your smile, which makes fixing overcrowded teeth a common concern.
What Causes Crowded Teeth?
From genetics to lifestyle-related, there are many factors that can lead to dental crowding. Read on to know some of the most common causes contributing to crowded teeth:
1. Genetic Factors
Genetic factors have a significant role to play in determining the size of your jaw and teeth. It is possible that you inherit a jaw of smaller size from your one parent but teeth larger in size from the other one. Due to this non-uniform inheritance, your teeth may not fit properly, leading to overcrowded teeth.
2. Premature Loss of Baby Teeth
If you lose your milk tooth very early, then there is a possibility that the nearby teeth start shifting into the empty space, which makes the left-out space insufficient for the growth of adult teeth properly. Now, the new permanent teeth may come in crooked, overlapping, or rotated due to the lack of space, contributing to overcrowded teeth.
3. Prolonged Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use
If a child continues with certain unusual habits like thumb sucking or using a pacifier beyond the age of three, it can badly affect the development of the jaw. These habits continuously put pressure on the front teeth, which can displace them from their position. As a result, it disturbs the alignment of other teeth as well, increasing the chances of needing braces with crowded teeth later on.
4. Impacted Teeth
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, usually emerge in the late teens or early twenties. However, many people don’t have enough space in their jaw for these teeth to grow properly. When this happens, the wisdom teeth can become impacted, meaning they get stuck under the gums or push against neighbouring teeth. This pressure can gradually shift the surrounding teeth, leading to crowding, misalignment, or even pain.
5. Poor Oral Habits
There are many oral habits that can hinder jaw development, such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, or improper swallowing patterns. These habits make alterations to the natural growth of the jaw and the teeth and can lead to dental alignment problems in the long term.
How to Fix Crowded Teeth?
If you are also having crowded teeth due to any of the above-mentioned reasons, do not worry; it can be easily fixed if the right treatment is taken. Read on to understand what treatments are available
1. Braces
If your dental crowding is moderate, then you can go for traditional metal braces. They are made up of metal brackets and wires. They help your teeth by applying the right amount of pressure over time, ensuring the teeth move back to the ideal placement.
Depending on how much alignment your teeth require, the treatment can take up to 3 months to 12 months. Braces correct overcrowding
2. Aligners
Aligners are custom-made, transparent trays which help your teeth align gradually. The duration of the treatment depends on your specific case, but generally, it lasts anywhere between 6 to 24 months.
You can comfortably eat while wearing aligners, and they are easily removable, which helps you properly maintain your oral hygiene during the process.
3. Invisalign Braces
Invisalign braces are a type of aligners only but are more comfortable and nearly invisible. It works in a similar manner to traditional aligners but is specially designed for more complex, crowded teeth treatment.
The treatment duration of Invisalign for overcrowded teeth varies between 6 months to 2 years, depending on the severity of your crowding.
4. Dental Bonding
If you do not have a major dental crowding issue that mainly affects the appearance of your teeth, then you should go for dental bonding for crowded teeth. In this treatment, a tooth-coloured resin is applied to make your teeth even and aligned by reshaping them.
This process takes approximately 30-60 minutes per tooth and can last up to even 10 years if you take proper care of it. Bonding does not make any changes to your tooth physically, and it just corrects minor irregularities to make it look better.
How to Prevent Crowded Teeth?
Prevention is always better than cure, and when it comes to crowded teeth, early care can make a significant difference. Proper dental habits should start as early as infancy to ensure that teeth grow in the right alignment. If you are a parent, you should monitor your child’s oral habits, such as prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use.
As an adult, maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting a dentist regularly can prevent further dental misalignment. If you experience wisdom tooth eruption or notice shifting teeth, seek orthodontic advice for Complete Simles today. Their highly qualified and friendly team will help you get your perfect smile back in no time.
Malavi Sivakanesan
Malavi Sivakanesan is the principal dentist and co-founder at Complete Smiles in Harrow, Greater London. She is responsible for establishing the Complete Smiles brand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and has 5 successful practices under her strong leadership.