Dental Conditions
Crooked or misaligned teeth
Straightening is not only cosmetic. Misaligned teeth create spaces plaque collects in that a brush cannot reach — which is why crooked teeth decay and develop gum disease faster.
Why straightening matters clinically
Overlapping and rotated teeth create surfaces that simply cannot be cleaned properly, however diligent you are. Plaque sits there undisturbed, and cavity and gum disease risk rise accordingly.
Misalignment also affects function. Teeth that do not meet evenly cause jaw pain and difficulty chewing, and concentrate force onto a few teeth rather than distributing it across the arch.
Your options
Invisalign
Clear, removable aligners that gradually shift teeth into position. Nearly invisible, easy to clean around, and suitable for most mild to moderate cases.
Traditional Braces
Brackets and wires, still among the most capable options for complex movements and severe misalignment. Modern brackets are smaller and more comfortable than they once were, with ceramic options for discretion.
Treated by a specialist
Dr. Julien Kim is a specialist orthodontist — not a general dentist offering aligners as a side service. That distinction matters most in the cases that do not go to plan, where knowing how to correct course mid-treatment is what separates a good result from a compromised one.
It also matters at the planning stage, in recognising which cases aligners can genuinely finish and which need fixed appliances from the start.
What the options actually are
Straightening teeth means moving them, and there are two ways to do it. Which suits you depends on how far the teeth have to travel, not on preference.
- Clear aligners work well for misalignment that is mild to moderate, and for spacing. They are removable, which is both the advantage and the catch: they only work while they are in — Invisalign and what clear aligners can fix.
- Fixed braces handle movements aligners cannot do predictably: significant rotation, substantial vertical movement, and some bite corrections — dental braces.
- Where the bite itself is the problem rather than the alignment of the front teeth, that is a different and usually longer piece of work — bite correction.
Treatment here is planned by Dr. Julien Kim, a registered specialist in orthodontics, and he will tell you which route your case suits and why.
What happens if it is left alone
Nothing dramatic, and that is exactly why it gets left. The costs accumulate slowly.
- Decay in the places a brush cannot reach. Overlapping surfaces hold plaque however carefully you brush. This is not a diligence problem; it is a geometry problem — cavities and tooth decay.
- Gum inflammation that does not settle. Plaque left undisturbed at a contact point keeps the gum irritated there, and gum disease is usually painless until it is advanced — gum disease and bleeding gums.
- Uneven wear. Teeth that do not meet evenly take load in places not built for it, which shows up years later as flattened edges and chipped enamel — worn down teeth.
- Crowding tends to increase with age, particularly at the lower front teeth. Waiting rarely makes the treatment smaller.
Retention, which is not optional
Teeth drift for as long as you are alive. That is how the ligament holding them works, not a failure of treatment. Left alone after straightening, they move back towards where they started, and the lower front teeth show it first.
So retention is part of the treatment. Full-time wear at first, then night-time indefinitely. The people who need treatment twice are the people who stopped wearing the retainer, and we would rather say that at the start than at the end.
Common questions
Is straightening my teeth only cosmetic?+
No. Overlapping surfaces hold plaque where a brush cannot reach, which raises decay and gum disease risk for as long as the overlap persists. Teeth that do not meet evenly also wear unevenly.
Aligners or braces?+
It depends on how far the teeth must move. Aligners suit mild to moderate cases and spacing. Fixed braces handle significant rotation and some bite corrections more predictably. If both would work, the choice is yours.
Will it get worse if I leave it?+
Usually slowly rather than suddenly. Crowding tends to increase with age, particularly at the lower front teeth, so waiting rarely makes the treatment smaller.
Am I too old for treatment?+
No. Teeth move throughout life. Adult treatment is routine, and often a little slower than in a growing patient.
Do I have to wear a retainer afterwards?+
Yes, and indefinitely at night. Teeth drift for as long as you are alive, so retention is part of the treatment rather than a follow-up to it.
Concerned about your symptoms?
Book an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Kim. Call (905) 479-7777.