If you have a snaggletooth, chances are that you’ve wondered what your options are for fixing it. A snaggletooth is an irregular or projecting tooth that grows out of alignment with the others. If you have multiple snaggleteeth, then that makes the idea of getting braces seem more reasonable. But if you have a single snaggletooth and the rest of your teeth are fairly straight, you may wonder if braces are really worth it. After all, it’s just one tooth. Surely, there are other treatment options available for it. Here’s what you need to know about how to fix a snaggletooth.

What Causes Snaggleteeth?

Your teeth can become crooked for a number of reasons. Typically, snaggleteeth are a result of overcrowding, which means that there isn’t enough room on your palette for your teeth. As such, this will cause teeth to get either pushed out or in, creating crooked or protruding teeth. 

There are other, though less common, potential causes for a snaggletooth. Your teeth might be large for your mouth, you may have lost your baby teeth early, you grind your teeth a lot, and more. There are many reasons why teeth can become misaligned over time.

Is A Snaggletooth A Problem?

People emphasize the importance of straightening teeth for your oral health, so if you have one out of line, is that a problem too? 

Snaggleteeth do not pose as serious a risk to your oral health as other orthodontic conditions, but they can still create problems, especially in your bite. Crooked teeth make it easier for bacteria to get trapped and make it harder to clean out too. As teeth constantly shift with age, a snaggletooth can become quite uncomfortable and potentially create a bigger problem. 

Plus, obtaining treatment for a snaggletooth can improve your confidence in your smile. If most of your teeth are straight except for one snaggletooth, it can make you self-conscious and want to hide your teeth and keep your smiles closed-mouthed. By straightening it, you can feel more secure in showing your teeth.

Treating A Snaggletooth

Often, when people consider getting treatment for a snaggletooth, they get hung up on the idea of braces. Braces can seem like an extreme and a long commitment just for one tooth. Are they really the only option for a snaggletooth? The truth is that there are multiple options for treating a snaggletooth, depending on how misaligned it is. 

Ultimately, the treatment recommended to you by your orthodontist will depend on the severity of your snaggletooth. 

Braces

As for any misaligned tooth, braces are an option for snaggleteeth. If your snaggletooth is severely misaligned, your orthodontist will likely recommend braces, as they are best for serious alignment issues. There are many different types of braces, such as mini-braces, and some of which are made of clear materials. This makes them more discreet than their metal counterparts. 

Discomfort is to be expected with them initially, but they offer an effective treatment, especially for more severe cases, as they can help adjust the jawbone, ergo fixing any problems a slightly crooked jaw could have created in your teeth.

Invisalign

Invisalign can treat a snaggletooth that is minorly or moderately misaligned. Invisalign takes less time than braces and is more subtle than braces tend to be. They are easy to remove, but do need to be worn for the majority of the day and whenever you eat or brush your teeth. Because they cannot adjust your jaw, they are not a fix for more severe alignment issues. Your orthodontist will determine if Invisalign is an option for your snaggletooth, or if you will need another method of treatment. 

Removal/Implant

If your snaggletooth is really severely out of alignment, an attempt to move it could cause further problems to your mouth. In this case, you may opt to have the tooth removed entirely and then an implant placed where it should be. This is typically done as a last resort and for the most severe cases. 

Other Options

There are a few other options that have been said to help with snaggleteeth, such as tooth contouring or a dental arch adjustment. Braces are often recommended most because they work best for more severe alignment problems, but your orthodontist can talk your through your options and what they think would work best for your specific case.

Do You Want To Treat Your Snaggletooth?

When you see a professional about a snaggletooth, you can expect an in-depth consultation where they examine your mouth, your jaw, your dental history, and then walk you through your options. They will recommend what would work best for you, and then you can be on your way to a straighter, more confident smile.

Do You Need To Schedule An Appointment?

Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we understand the importance of correcting alignment issues in the teeth, and we understand the dual impact orthodontic treatment can have both for improving your oral health and for improving your confidence. If you would like to schedule an appointment or have any questions, please contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today! 

There is no set age to get orthodontic treatment. Anyone, regardless of age, can obtain orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment can both minimize oral health issues and boost confidence in one’s smile. With how oral health affects your overall health, it’s vital to take care of your teeth, and part of protecting your oral health may involve orthodontics. But is there a certain age you should start? When do you know when you should start orthodontic treatment?

Different Ages Have Different Reasons

Different ages come with different reasons for starting orthodontic treatment. It is important to be aware of what age is best for what issue so as to stay on top of your oral health. Here is what you need to know about orthodontic treatment through the years.

Early Treatment

Orthodontists usually recommend children start having their mouths checked when they are as young as 7. Getting early treatment can make any future treatment either more effective or entirely unnecessary. 7 is the recommended age to start taking a child to check-ups because that is when a child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to see how their teeth and jaw are developing, and if there are any serious issues that would lend themselves to early treatment.

Early treatment is best if it looks like there are current issues that could become more severe, if left untreated. Sometimes, an orthodontist will highlight teeth that may become a problem later, but leave them be for the moment. Early treatment is best for serious issues like underbites, overbites, very crowded teeth, big gaps between teeth, teeth that meet abnormally, jaw disharmony, or if there are issues impacting teeth and jaw growth/health. The earlier you treat serious orthodontic issues, the easier it is to correct. In severe or persistent cases, even if a child obtains orthodontic treatment young, they may still require it in the future.

Treatment as A Tween/Teen

In some cases, it’s best to wait until most of a child’s adult teeth are in before starting any orthodontic treatment. Tweens and teens often get orthodontic treatment after losing their baby teeth, which can be best to lessen the chances of enamel decalcification and root resorption. With how rapid growth is during adolescence, this increases effectiveness. Orthodontic treatment doesn’t just improve one’s bite, but can also improve one’s speech, which is why having it done in one’s developmental years can be important, to prevent issues arising in other areas of adolescence. 

After all of one’s adult teeth come it, certain treatments are more highly recommended. Simple teeth straightening and teeth that stick out are problems easiest to resolve in one’s teens. As mentioned above with early childhood treatment, some orthodontists may recommend waiting until the teens to seek treatment for less severe problems. In these cases, it helps ensure one only has to be treated once, as opposed to multiple times.

Adult Treatment

While getting treatment in your younger years can be best for preventing and fixing orthodontic issues, teeth can shift as you age. Teeth shift for a variety of reasons, varying from aging itself, to grinding your teeth, to gum disease. Teeth shifting is natural, and can usually be stopped from causing serious problems through proper dental hygiene. Because teeth can shift, though, some people grow up with straight teeth that become more crooked as they grow up. Accidents and injuries can impact teeth too, creating orthodontic problems that weren’t there before. 

Adults may also seek out orthodontic treatment to improve their overall oral health and confidence in their smiles. Perhaps they could not afford orthodontic treatment when they were younger, but now they can. Or perhaps they were not bothered by their teeth when they were younger, but now they are. Whatever the reason, approximately 20% of orthodontic patients are adults, so starting treatment as an adult is not uncommon! 

Adult teeth can be harder to move because adults have denser bones than children. Because adult teeth have stopped growing, this means that some orthodontic changes require surgery to fix. Though it may take more time, adult orthodontic treatment can be just as successful as treatment received in one’s childhood or teens. There is no such thing as too old for orthodontic treatment. Some people receive it in their 60’s and 70’s. If you are considering it, consult with an orthodontist to figure out what would work best for you.

When Is The Best Age to Start Orthodontic Treatment? 

As you can see, it depends on a variety of factors, but orthodontic treatment is not restricted to any age. Anyone can seek out treatment.

Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we are passionate about providing expert orthodontic treatment. It is important to seek out orthodontic treatment whenever you need it for the good of your oral and overall health. To learn more about orthodontic options or to schedule an appointment, contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today!