A misaligned bite often occurs when a tooth, or a section of teeth, leans away from the rest of the teeth. When the mouth is closed and the teeth come together, the leaning teeth aren’t involved in that bite. This problem can cause jaw strain, chewing problems, or just general annoyance. There are a few dental fixes to get your bite back in line:
Tooth Removal
This is the most severe route but also works the best ifit’ss a single tooth causing the bite problem. A dental surgeon can remove the tooth painlessly and with little time required for healing. If the idea of a missing tooth bothers you, or if the dentist is afraid that the space will create further problems, you can receive a dental implant to fill the gap. The actual implant is a man-made root structure that’s used to fuse the replacement tooth to the bone. A carefully crafted crown, or fake tooth, is then attached to that implant for security.
Note that dental surgeons don’t like to remove healthy teeth, so unless the leaning tooth is causing serious problems, this might not be an option. A tooth with prior damage or disease is a better candidate than a healthy, unblemished tooth.
Clear Braces
Braces of any kind can help move a misaligned section of teeth over time. But clear braces offer the most lifestyle versatility, particularly for adults, and can be worn on only half of the mouth that needs adjusting. A cosmetic dentist will create clear brace trays that fit over the teeth and can be filled with whitening agents for some dental multitasking. New trays will be created periodically as the misaligned teeth begin to shift into the proper position.
Braces can’t help damaged or decaying teeth. If one or more teeth in the misaligned section have serious structural issues, those need to be treated before braces can help fix the alignment.
Tooth Repair
If the misaligned tooth or teeth have structural issues that aren’t severe enough for complete removal, there are some tricks a dentist can use to correct the teeth while fixing the alignment problem. Teeth can be shaved down and bonded with veneers to create a new shape and position. Crowns can also be used for this purpose. These techniques work best when the root and base of the tooth are still relatively healthy, but the exterior tooth has cavities, damage, or other cosmetic deficiencies.