How Do You Fix Misaligned Midline Teeth?
When a person’s upper arch of teeth and lower arch of teeth don’t align symmetrically, this is called midline misalignment. Misaligned midline teeth are common and can be treated with a few different methods, and your dentist and orthodontist can discuss your options for treatment with you if you’re seeking to repair the alignment of your smile. While the concerns associated with a misaligned midline may seem primarily cosmetic, the reality is that the condition can lead to problems with the mechanics of the bite and contribute to the risk of tooth damage and tooth loss. Therefore, treatment is an important step toward restoring both the symmetry of the smile and the function of the bite.
Your orthodontist can review treatment methods that may be recommended for your misaligned midline, and you can make an informed decision about which procedure works best for your preferences and your budget. Recommended treatments will also depend, in part, on the severity of the misalignment and its cause. Some of the causes of a shift in the midline include losing baby teeth too early, which creates imbalance in the permanent teeth; missing or undersized permanent teeth that create space for adjacent teeth to drift out of alignment; overcrowded and overlapping teeth; and problems with the bite that can be caused by habits during infancy or that develop for congenital reasons. Any of these issues could lead to jaw pain, TMJ, headaches, excessive tooth damage, and even tooth loss. Misalignments can also contribute to tooth decay and gum disease, as it is more difficult to effectively clean between and around teeth that are crowded or otherwise difficult to navigate, and alignment issues can also interfere with clear speech.
Braces are a highly effective method for correcting a misaligned midline, especially when the misalignment is poised to cause continued damage to the teeth, jaws, and facial alignment. Orthodontists can also use devices called Hyrax expanders, either on their own or in conjunction with braces, to expand the upper jaw and help it accommodate the teeth as they shift into alignment through treatment with braces. For more minor midline misalignments, custom invisible dental aligners like Invisalign can be used to gently guide the teeth into their proper positions. Because Invisalign doesn’t require any wires or metal brackets, they tend to be more comfortable than braces, and they’re also more aesthetically appealing.
Dental specialists might also recommend extracting one or more teeth if midline misalignment is a result of overcrowding or because of an impacted tooth. Sometimes, extracting a tooth is sufficient to allow the remaining teeth to shift back into alignment, while extraction might accompany orthodontic treatment like expanders or braces in more significant cases of midline misalignment. For midline misalignment that is more cosmetic than functional, veneers may be used to repair the alignment of the arch. These thin sheets of custom-made porcelain are bonded onto the fronts of the teeth, correcting issues with the appearance, shape, and size of the teeth and restoring the symmetry and brightness of the smile, though they should only be used when there are no mechanical concerns that require more comprehensive orthodontic treatment.