Tucson AZ Dentists: Helping Patients Achieve Beautiful Smiles

Malocclusion is the condition of having misaligned teeth. Ideally, the upper and lower dental arches must meet, while the canines, premolars and molars should fit like a jigsaw puzzle whenever a person bites down. The upper incisors are meant to be positioned slightly forward though still upright from the gums. Tucson dentists can therefore tell if one’s teeth need realignment treatment.

Mild malocclusion is generally harmless. However, severely misaligned teeth can be difficult to manage. Food particles can get caught between them, thus allowing plaque and tartar to develop more easily. Some people with malocclusion may have speech impediments or suffer constant head and neck aches.

Certain anatomical defects, childhood thumb-sucking, or even improper mouth breathing can all cause dental malocclusion. Children who use pacifiers or drink from baby bottles beyond the age of three years are prone to developing malocclusions as the incisors or front teeth are constantly thrust forward. This eventually affects the facial profile and speech. Some hereditary features i.e. cranial bone structure can affect the growth of teeth, especially wisdom teeth, which are the last to erupt from the gums.

It is worth noting that some people actually do not grow any wisdom teeth. Some argue that this is evolution in action, since human jaws have become significantly shorter than our humanoid ancestors. A softer diet may have also led to smaller, square teeth while our shorter jaws all but render wisdom teeth unnecessary. Some professionals such as aviators are actually required to have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid pressure in the skull at high altitudes. Tucson AZ dentists at dental practices like Smile Tucson may also recommend extraction of wisdom teeth especially if these are impacted or growing horizontally and crowd other teeth.

Once the necessary extractions are done, the dentist allows the mouth to heal and, in some cases, install braces to achieve proper dental alignment. The duration of the treatment can vary depending on the severity of the malocclusion; some patients need to wear braces for only a year, while others need to keep them on for three years. It is thus not unusual to see adults wearing braces. But for a lot of teenagers, wearing braces is a coming-of-age experience they need to endure so they can have perfect smiles by the time they reach adulthood.

Adults who suffer any form or malocclusion in which their teeth return to their pre-treatment position may visit a Tucson dentist and have six-month adult braces installed. On the other hand, people with mild cases of malocclusion which do not require tooth extractions may opt for progressive clear aligners made of plastic to let their beautiful smiles shine through.