[Dental Health] Upper protruding teeth can be either congenital or acquired! What is the most appropriate way to treat them?
The most obvious sign of misaligned teeth for most people is protruding teeth. Besides being unsightly, protruding teeth can negatively impact biting and daily breathing. Let a dentist explain the causes of protruding teeth and common treatments!
What causes protruding teeth?
(1) Innate genes
Most cases of protruding teeth are due to genetic factors, such as teeth being naturally too large or jaws being too narrow, leaving insufficient space for teeth to grow normally. As a result, the teeth overlap after they fully grow, leading to conditions like "buck teeth." Congenital genetic factors, such as overdevelopment of the upper jawbone, a shorter lower jawbone, poor chin development, or a receding chin, can also cause protruding teeth.
(2) Influence of Habits
Besides congenital factors, bad habits acquired later in life can also lead to "buck teeth." Children often engage in sucking motions, such as sucking on a pacifier or their thumb. If this bad habit persists beyond a certain age, it can affect the normal development of teeth later on, leading to buck teeth.
Problems with protruding teeth or malocclusion.
How to deal with "buck teeth"?
The most common treatment is orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic appliances are mainly divided into fixed appliances and removable appliances.
The most traditional and common method of teeth straightening involves attaching braces to the teeth and then using wires, metal archwires, and elastics to move the teeth. Traditional braces come in metal and ceramic varieties, neither of which can be removed by the wearer. They also tend to feel foreign and can cause scratches in the mouth.
Removable braces are primarily invisible braces, which are custom-made to fit the user's teeth shape. Users need to change to new braces approximately every two weeks depending on the progress of their treatment. The treatment process is more comfortable and easier to clean than traditional braces, and they are also more aesthetically pleasing. However, users need to be disciplined and wear them for 20-22 hours daily.
If protruding teeth are caused by problems with the upper jaw bones, further orthognathic surgery may be necessary to adjust the bite position and improve the protruding teeth problem. If protruding teeth are caused by overdevelopment of the upper jaw or retrusion of the lower jaw before the age of 15, functional appliances can be considered to move the upper jaw backward. Conversely, if the lower jaw is retruded, it can be moved forward. It is recommended to intervene before puberty to reduce the need for tooth extraction or jaw surgery. Adolescent boys should receive functional appliances before the laryngeal cartilage erupts, and girls should receive them before menstruation, around 14-15 years old. If treatment is missed before puberty, the effect may be less significant.
If it's just the upper protruding teeth, can I just get my upper teeth straightened?
No, that's not possible. Orthodontic treatment requires straightening both the upper and lower teeth simultaneously.
Each tooth is not completely independent but closely connected, and specific teeth cannot be moved individually during orthodontic treatment. If only the upper teeth are treated, malocclusion or other new dental problems may occur after the teeth are moved.
Author: Dr. Chen Haoxian
