What should I do to clear the crowding and snaggletooth, and straighten my teeth overall? Is Invisalign a possibility? (Photo)

Question

I have bad crowding on my lower jaw, along with crooked teeth. I have a snaggletooth on the upper row and my teeth are crooked as well. What is the best route to take? Thanks.

Ira Shapira, DDS · Answer

The problem is underdeveloped jaws therefore the answer is to grow your jaws orthopedically to give room for the teeth and the tongue.The DNA Appliance grows your bone orthopedically (expansion Orthodontics)  and your airway pneumopedically.  The DNA Appliance is only worn 12-14 hours/day.Growth equals a healthier physiology.This will help prevent future Sleep Apnea and Snoring, TMJ disorders, Headaches, Migraines and sinus issues.Do not extract bicuspids (contraction orthodontics)  as it could make all of those problems worse.  Expansion vs contraction orthodontics is an imprtant concept.  Expansion is far better than contraction orthodontics.Ira L Shapira DDSDiplomate, American Board of Dental Sleep MedicineDiplomat, American Academy of Pain ManagementFellow, International College of CranioMandibular OrthopedicsChair, Alliance of TMD Organizations

Lisa Hansen, DDS · Answer

You deserve a beautiful smile!  Fixing your teeth is an investment in yourself.  It is very important to have straight teeth for esthetic reasons as well as for your overall health.  Crowded teeth are difficult to clean, and can harbor bacteria that can cause decay and periodontal disease.  Bacteria in your mouth can spread into the rest of your body and cause problems such as heart disease and lung infections.  I'm glad that you are seeking advice on treatment. The shape of your teeth is very nice and I can envision with the proper treatment sequence that you can have an amazing smile.  The problem I see, is that your upper and lower jaws are very narrow and your teeth are collapsed inward, so your teeth do not have enough room to line up next to each other.   Room for your teeth can be made by different methods including jaw surgery to widen the jaws, extraction of a few teeth on upper and lower, IPR or inter proximal reduction which means carefully filing the sides of multiple teeth, or orthodontically tipping your teeth outward.  Due to your severe crowding you will likely need a combination of these methods.  Usually with severe crowding you will have difficulty cleaning your teeth and can develop early periodontal disease, decay and bad breath.  Your first appointment should be with a general dentist to get a good cleaning and check for cavities.  Looking at the pictures, I think you may have a cavity on your lower front tooth and some on your lower molars.  Once your mouth is healthy, you will be ready for your staightening  phase.  Your treatment modality will depend out what you desire as an outcome.  If you want perfectly aligned teeth no matter the cost or invasiveness, you might expect a treatment plan to consist of  jaw surgery and traditional braces.  If you're goal is an improved, nice smile, with no surgical down time and no sign that you are being treated, then Invisalign could offer you quite a bit of improvement, and be comfortable and invisible.   I have treated some crowded cases with Invisalign with great success.  Very crowded cases, like yours, may need some camouflaging restorations like with bonding or veneers to make the result look even better.   Make sure you are very clear with your dentist as to  what are your goals and limitations for treatment and outcome.  Your treatment will likely take a few years, but you will will have the rest of your life to enjoy have an amazing smile and better health.  Good Luck To You!

Brad Lockhart, DDS · Answer

Invisalign is not a good option to fix severe crowding. Braces alone is not the best option either. The reason you have such severe crowding (including a "snaggletooth" that is completely blocked out of your dental arch) is because your dental arches are severely underdeveloped. Further evidence of your severely underdeveloped dental arches is your scalloped tongue (your tongue does not fit into your lower dental arch between the teeth).  Why are your dental arches underdeveloped? There could be a myriad of reasons: too soft a diet during critical arch development years, allergies causing mouth breathing, enlarged adenoids/tonsils also causing restricted nose breathing, over use of a pacifier or baby bottle, etc, etc.The cause of your dental arch underdevelopment is not nearly as important as the remedy. The good news is that your aches can still be properly developed using simple removable appliances. Your treatment would best be accomplished by a doctor who understands epigenetic orthodontics. Ideally you would have none of your teeth extracted but you would need to spend 12-18 months developing your dental arches BEFORE you try to straighten the teeth. Once your arches are properly developed then you can use either Invisalign or conventional braces to straighten your teeth.Good luck!

Frank Celenza, DDS, PC · Answer

you've got a lot of crowding there, upper and lower.  Lower more so, and likely an extraction situation.  You need to consult with a good orthodontist in your area and get this treated.  and by the way, in my office, I'd offer you Invisalign absolutely.

Vicki Borowski, DDS · Answer

Thanks for posting the pictures. You would be better served going the conventional orthodontic route. Braces will make a HUGE change in your smile and bite. The longer you wait the more difficult it may be to move some of your teeth.

What should I do to clear the crowding and snaggletooth, and straighten my teeth overall? Is Invisalign a possibility? (Photo)

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What should I do to clear the crowding and snaggletooth, and straighten my teeth overall? Is Invisalign a possibility? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Crowded snaggler

Answer: Crowded snaggler

Answer: Invisalign?

Answer: Invisalign?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.