Crooked Teeth and Porcelain Veneers

Your teeth are important in conveying an attractive, and attention-grabbing smile.  If your teeth have problems, it will significantly impact on your appearance and smile – which may lead to a reduction in self-esteem and confidence.  If you feel that you have flaws with your teeth, then you’re not alone.  Many people are embarrassed by the appearance of their teeth which lead to a perceive notion of an unsatisfactory facial appearance or smile.

Crooked teeth are a common dental flaw amongst many people in all demographic.  There are several reasons why some people’s teeth grow in crooked.  Some people’s mouths are too small for their teeth, which crowds the teeth and causes them to shift.  In other cases, a person’s upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size or are malformed, resulting in either an overbite, when there is excessive protrusion of the upper jaw, or an under bite, when the lower jaw protrudes forward causing the lower jaw and teeth to extend out beyond the upper teeth.

There are many potential causes of crooked teeth or misaligned bites including:                                                       

    * Genetics – crooked teeth can be an inherited trait, just like the color of your eyes or your height.
    * Early loss of baby or adult teeth
    * Improper fit of dental restorations (for example, fillings or crowns)
    * Too small of a jaw to accommodate erupting teeth
    * Periodontal (gum) disease
    * Undue pressure on the teeth and gums
    * Misalignment of jaw after severe facial injury
    * Tumors of the mouth or jaw
    * Childhood habits like prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, pacifier use beyond the age of three, or prolonged use of a bottle.

Whatever the case, having crooked teeth can cause many problems such as increasing the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis, interfere with proper chewing, cause excessive strain to the teeth, jaws, and muscles, and make you feel more self-conscious about your appearance bringing about poor self-esteem.

The good news is that cosmetic dentistry has many options available to correct crooked teeth.  If your teeth are severely misshapen, the best route to straighten them is through the use of braces, invisalign, or accelerated orthodontic procedures.  However, if your teeth are only slightly crooked, then tooth contouring & reshaping can be done, and then porcelain veneers can be applied.

Tooth contouring and reshaping is a relatively inexpensive cosmetic dentistry procedure.  This "sculpting" process usually involves a combination of scraping off a portion of the existing tooth enamel and replacing it with bonding or a veneer.  Your cosmetic dentist will remove a small amount of enamel using a drill or laser and sculpt the sides of your teeth with abrasive strips.

Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic laminates that can be applied to your new sculpted teeth.  Porcelain veneers will enhance your teeth’s appearance by making them look straighter, and also whiter.  This will bring about a natural-looking and beautiful smile.