As soon as parents find out that their children’s permanent teeth are crooked, many immediately take them to an orthodontist in Fleming Island, FL. Orthodontists specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting teeth and jaw misalignment. Even adults find ways to correct crooked teeth and take the necessary steps to ensure that their teeth don’t return to their original positions after orthodontic treatment. Crooked teeth are not only unsightly, but they also negatively impact oral health in more ways than one.
In an article published in 2017 in the Open Access Journal of Dental Sciences, it was found that teeth misalignment is caused by two factors – the environment and genetics. Environmental factors are modifiable. Unfortunately, genetics isn’t. However, genetics plays a role in the size and shape of your teeth and jaws.
Examples of environmental factors contributing to crooked teeth are tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking. In addition, failing to replace missing teeth can result in crooked teeth. So, to answer the question, yes, it can be prevented if you consider the environmental factors.
The good news is that your child can achieve straight teeth by asking for help from an orthodontist. Several options are designed for crooked teeth, such as ceramic braces, metal braces, invisible aligners, self-ligating ceramic braces, and retainers.
If your child’s teeth are already crooked, don’t worry too much about it. There are plenty of options to help improve your child’s smile and oral function. At Fleming Island Dental Care, we are proud of our skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced team of dentists! If you want to know what treatment option will suit you best, give us a call to book an appointment.