It’s not a stretch to say that most people want to have straight teeth. Many studies have shown that having straight teeth not only affects how someone is perceived by others, but also their own self esteem as well. What you may not know, however, is that having straight teeth matters for more than just aesthetic reasons – whether or not your teeth are crooked can actually significantly affect your oral health as well.  

The straightness of your teeth is also known in the dental world as occlusion. Simply put, occlusion refers to the alignment of your teeth, both between your top and bottom teeth and also those adjacent to one another. When you’re asked to bite down during your regular dental check-ups, it’s often to check your tooth occlusion to make sure everything is as it should be.

On the other hand, if your teeth are misaligned in some way, that’s known as a malocclusion. Examples of malocclusion include having an overbite, buck teeth or gaps between your teeth. Generally speaking, if your teeth are crowded together, too spaced apart or if your bite leaves too much empty space between your top and bottom teeth your teeth may be maloccluded.  

While many malocclusions could be considered less visually desirable, they are also potential indicators of tooth problems further down the road. If your teeth are crowded together it could cause an improper bite, unevenly distributing the force of your bite and placing extra strain on some of your teeth. Additionally, if your teeth aren’t fully upright, the force exerted from biting and chewing won’t travel properly through the root to your jawbone, instead causing lateral stress on your teeth. If your teeth are too far apart, the lack of support can lead to your teeth becoming flared or pushed out. Lack of contact from an open bite can cause premature or abnormal wear on your back teeth.

If left untreated, these malocclusions can cause significant symptoms, ranging from tooth sensitivity from extra wear and receding gums to loose, chipped or even broken teeth. In the most extreme cases, it can even cause tooth loss.

So, what can be done to treat malocclusion? Luckily, there are likely a number of treatment options available to you, depending on the severity of the issue. One of our most successful treatment plans include the use of Invisalign

What are the oral health downsides to malocclusion?

• Tooth loss

• Studies have shown  

• Loose teeth

• Sensitivity (from wear)

• Receding gums

• Cracking, breaking, fracturing and chipping

How can we help straighten teeth? There are a number of treatment options available, but one that we often recommend is Invisalign due to its largely non-invasive nature. Different from ceramic or metal braces, Invisalign is a less noticeable tooth straightening tool preferred by many people thanks to the freedom to eat and drink whatever they’d like on top of easier maintenance.  

If you’re concerned about the straightness of your teeth, or just wondering if Invisalign is an option for you, book your appointment today at either of our two Winnipeg locations – just use the orange Book Online button to get started.

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