Your smile is the first thing anyone notices about you when they meet you, when you are confident and happy about your smile that reflects your body language and overall personality. If you are not satisfied with your smile, it can be due to many reasons.

Many people are looking for options to enhance their smile, but they are not well aware of the various dental treatment options available to help them.

In the information provided below, we will briefly discuss which all conditions can affect your smile and how we can help you achieve your dream smile.

The conditions that mainly affect the smile are

1. Crooked teeth
2. Stained teeth
3. Cracked teeth 
4. Missing teeth

Now let us discuss each condition in brief.

Crooked teeth

Crooked teeth or malaligned teeth not only affect your smile but may also have effects on your chewing ability. The crowded teeth or the teeth overlapping each other are hard to clean and thus can harm your gum’s health as well.

Causes of crooked teeth

There are many causes of crooked teeth, and some of them are listed below-

Genetics

The size of the jaw can be related to your genetics, and smaller jaws can be a reason for crooked teeth due to lack of space for proper alignment.

Injury

A severe blow to the face can lead to the displacement of the teeth.

Bad habits

Habits like thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and excessive use of pacifiers can lead to misaligned teeth.

Early loss of milk teeth

The purpose of primary teeth, popularly known as milk teeth, is to maintain the space for their successors. Early loss of the milk teeth can lead to the drifting of the permanent teeth into a new position while erupting.

Risk factors associated with crooked teeth

Many risk factors are associated if you do not treat crooked teeth. Some of them are listed below:

• Decreased self-esteem
• Gum problems
• Speech problems
• Difficulty in chewing

Treatment options available to correct crooked teeth

Various types of treatment modalities are available to restore crooked teeth. The two major types of treatment options available are-

• Braces

The braces are the traditional type of treatment option available in which the brackets are placed onto your teeth. The wire system that passes through the brackets applies forces to align the teeth.

Various brackets like metal, ceramic, and lingual braces are used to correct the misaligned teeth.

• Clear aligners

For superior aesthetics, clear aligners are preferred over traditional braces. Clear aligners are plastic trays held onto your teeth to move them into a more desirable place. 

The only drawback of this system is that it can not correct severely misaligned teeth. It is best to consult your orthodontist for a detailed health check-up and formulation of a treatment plan.

Stained teeth

Stained teeth or discoloration of the teeth is another cause of unattractive smiles. The natural color of the teeth is white, and when it changes, or you can see some dark spots, it is termed teeth discoloration. The discoloration can be intrinsic or extrinsic.

Causes of teeth discoloration

• Food items like tea, coffee, cola, wine
• Use of tobacco
• Poor oral hygiene
• Certain medications like tetracycline and doxycycline
• Excessive use of fluorides in any form
• Trauma to the tooth

Treatment of teeth discoloration

Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is a procedure done to lighten the shade of the teeth. There are broadly two types of teeth whitening methods used-

In dental office

A bleaching solution of strong concentration is used to whiten your teeth. This method is more effective than the at-home type.

At home

The patient is provided with whitening gels and toothpaste to lighten the shade in this type.

Also, know if the teeth discoloration is not generalized and is limited to specific teeth.

Dental veneers can also be used to treat certain dark spots. Veneers are thin shells attached to your teeth by your cosmetic dentist to conceal the dark color of the concerned tooth.

Cracked teeth

If you bite onto something hard or fall off on the road, there are chances that your teeth get cracked or chipped off. Based on the severity, there are different types of cracked teeth, and the treatment modality also depends on that.

Types of cracked teeth

Craze lines

They are tiny shallow cracks and are present only in the outer enamel portion of the teeth. It only affects the aesthetics of the teeth and poses not many problems.

Fractured Cusp

When a part of the chewing teeth surface breaks off, it is called a fractured cusp. Depending on the extent, it can be painful or painless.

Cracked tooth

If the tooth crack extends vertically downwards towards the root, it is a cracked tooth. Early intervention helps save such cases.

Split tooth

If the cracked tooth is left untreated and the two segments are separated visibly, it is a split tooth. It becomes difficult to save a split tooth intact.

Treatment options

Dental bonding

Composite material bonds with the tooth to treat the chipped-off and cracked tooth surface. The dentist mimics the exact shape, size, and color of the tooth involved.

Veneers

These are thin shells usually made up of porcelain used to cover the teeth. They can be used in the minor correction of chipped-off enamel and tooth discolorations.

Root canal treatment

When the injury involves the pulp portion of the tooth, which is the nerves and blood vessels of the teeth, it becomes imperative to perform the root canal treatment procedure. The RCT of the teeth helps in the debridement of the infected tissue, enhancing the teeth’ prognosis.

Missing teeth

Missing teeth may be due to caries, trauma, or compromised health of the supporting tooth structures. The replacement of missing teeth becomes essential to preserve the health of the adjacent teeth and the bone tissue housing the teeth.

Various treatment modalities are available to restore missing teeth which are mentioned below.

Treatment options to restore missing teeth

• Dental implants
• Tooth supported bridges
• Implant-supported bridges
• Removable dentures

The bottom line

Whatever may be the underlying cause of the unaesthetic smile, it is advisable to visit your dentist at the earliest for its correction. Your dentist will perform a thorough health check-up and radiographic examination to formulate a treatment plan best suited for you.

The cost of all the treatments may vary as per the severity of the case. Early intervention is always better to avoid losses in terms of health and money.