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Crowded teeth, also known as crowded dentition , is when the mouth doesn't have enough space to keep the teeth straight. As a result, individuals with this type of malocclusion suffer from overlapped or crooked teeth.
Types
Depending on the patient's jaw size and how many teeth they have, teeth crowding may be mild, moderate, or severe.
Mild dental crowding — Occurs when an anterior tooth is slightly turned in the upper or lower jaw.
Moderate dental crowding — Crowding in the upper or lower jaw occurs when two or three anterior teeth overlap.
Severe crowding — Occurs when most anterior teeth overlap in the upper or lower jaw.
Causes
A variety of factors that can contribute to teeth crowding including:
• If the teeth (genetically) are larger than the jaw, the teeth do not fit properly and tilt or twist.
• Some people have a smaller jaw (genetics), which can lead to tooth crowding as permanent teeth grow.
• When you lose your primary teeth too early, other teeth can shift in the available space.
• Due to over-retained infant teeth, permanent teeth do not erupt properly. This is when the teeth are loosened, but then tighten back into the gums and avoid permanent tooth eruption. A dentist generally removes over-preserved baby teeth to enable permanent teeth to erupt. Not removing them normally leads to crowded dentition.
Treatment
Braces
Braces are the most common treatment for overcrowding. For esthetic and practical purposes, people are getting braces (not only to fix their smiles but also to re-align the jaws). The choice of braces include clear braces, traditional metal braces, and lingual braces.
