“Why is my smile uneven? How do I fix my crooked teeth?” These are frequent questions that many patients ask us about their smiles. Asymmetrical teeth are quite common and nothing to be ashamed of. The good news is that, in most cases, your smile can be corrected.
Crooked teeth can affect your bite, self-confidence, oral hygiene, and overall health. From minor misalignments to more severe crowding, uneven teeth come in many forms. This guide will walk you through the different options to help you make the best choice for your dental health.
How do I Fix an Uneven Smile?
Modern dentistry offers several solutions to help straighten your teeth, depending on your situation. Your dental care provider can assess your smile and bite to determine what treatment options are most suitable.
Below are five options you can ask your dental provider about.
1. Clear Aligners and Braces
Clear aligners like Invisalign may be an option if you have mild to moderately crooked teeth. Clear aligners are transparent trays customized for your smile goals and fit snugly to your mouth. They’re nearly invisible, removable, and are replaced every few weeks as your teeth gradually shift.
If you have more complex issues with your smile, your provider may recommend braces. Braces involve metal brackets attached to each tooth, connected by wires, and stay fixed to your mouth for an average duration of 24 weeks. Food is more easily trapped inside braces and can be more tricky to clean.
Dentistry has come a long way in improving the look of braces. Depending on your dental provider and coverage options, metal braces, tooth-colored ceramic braces, and lingual braces (nearly invisible braces attached to the back of the teeth) may be available. With any of these options, you may be required to wear a retainer at night to maintain your alignment.
2. Dental Veneers and Tooth Veneers
Dental Veneers are thin porcelain or composite shells bonded to the front of your teeth. While they don’t move the teeth, veneers can mask minor crookedness and other imperfections.
This cosmetic dental service can offer an immediate fix for minor misalignment and other aesthetic issues; however, they can sometimes be more costly and require some enamel removal, making them a permanent change.
3. Dental Bonding and Tooth Bonding
The process of tooth bonding involves changing the shape and color of a tooth using a plastic coating directly applied to the misshaped or chipped tooth. Dental bonding doesn’t require an anesthetic and can be completed in just one visit to your Apple Valley Dental Clinic.
It costs less than dental veneers, but the ceramic material used typically only lasts several years before possible chipping or staining may occur.
4. Crowns
This type of service adds support to prevent teeth from cracking or breaking and covers misshapen or broken teeth.
Dental crowns can be created from a gold alloy, porcelain veneer over a gold framework, or fully porcelain material. Your dental care provider can recommend which type of dental crown best suits your unique needs.
5. Bridges
Dental bridges are one of the most effective ways to replace decayed, fractured, or missing teeth. Bridges can help restore your smile, maintain proper facial tone, support chewing and speaking, and safeguard your remaining teeth.
A dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) supported by dental crowns on adjacent natural teeth or dental implants. The crowns are attached to the teeth on either side of the gap, creating a bridge over the space.
How do You know which Option is Best for You?
Your dental care provider can help recommend the most appropriate service for your situation; however, there are a few things to consider when choosing a service:
- The severity of crookedness
- Lifestyle and preferences
- Age (braces may be more suitable for children)
- Budget and insurance coverage
In most cases, you’ll typically have an initial consultation with your dentist before any treatment can begin to discuss care options and answer any questions you may have.
Complete Your Look With Teeth Whitening Services
What better way to celebrate a “new you” than with a vibrant, white smile? Teeth whitening services can help make your smile look bright and polished after any smile correction services have been completed. They can also boost your confidence and remove years of stubborn surface stains.
Getting Started
Dakota Dental’s friendly team of dentists in Apple Valley, MN, can help you achieve that confident and healthy smile you’ve dreamed of. Request an appointment today to get started, or call us at (952) 431-5774!