Dental Conditions
Crowded teeth
Crowding occurs when there is not enough jaw space for the teeth present, so they overlap, rotate, and push out of line — and become very difficult to clean properly.
The immediate concern most people have is appearance. The longer-term concern is that overlapping surfaces trap plaque where neither brush nor floss reaches reliably, which raises cavity and gum disease risk for as long as the crowding persists.
Severe crowding sometimes requires creating space — either by expanding the arch or, in some cases, by extracting a tooth so the rest can align properly.
Treatment options
Invisalign
Clear, removable aligners that gradually shift teeth into proper alignment. Well suited to mild and moderate crowding, and the usual preference for adults who want discretion.
Traditional Braces
Brackets and wires, capable of the rotational and bodily movements that severe crowding demands. Often the faster route where crowding is significant.
Retention is not optional
Crowded teeth crowd for a reason, and once straightened they will drift back toward their original positions if nothing holds them.
Every orthodontic case here finishes with a retention plan. It is the least interesting part of the treatment and the part that determines whether the result lasts five years or thirty.
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 crowding 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 a consultation with Dr. Julien Kim, specialist orthodontist. Call (905) 479-7777.