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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What can I do about crowding in bottom teeth?

    Related Topics
    Dentistry Oral Health Orthodontics
    I am a 27 year old female with crowding in my bottom teeth - my dentist said this is not due to my wisdom teeth coming in (all came through in my early twenties) but is genetic.

    I don't like the look of this at all, and worry it will become worse as I get older. I am not interested in invisalign (as I don't like the feeling of things in my mouth), so what would be involved with braces? do teeth need to be removed at all?

    How long would braces need to be on for and what would be the cost? I have top level private health insurance (hospital and extras).
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  • 37

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    Dr Richard Mumford

    Dentist

    Friendly, personal & experienced Chatswood Dentist for over 30 years. A professional practice where the patient comes first and there is no pushy salesmanship. View Profile

    I think a consultation with a specialist Orthodontist would be the best solution. Crowding is fundamentally due to too many or too wide teeth in too little space. To straighten them  first you need to- narrow them by removing a tiny amount between each called stripping;remove one or more teeth (usually 2); or expand the arch, none of which are easy. Braces can be also placed on the inside of the mouth in some patients so that they don't show. An often overlooked cause of crowding at your age is tooth grinding - when you clench or grind your teeth it can push them forward and cause crowding.

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  • 20

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    Dr Harry Marget

    Dentist

    graduated 1972 , and have been in private practice now for 41 years , with a special interest in orthodontics ,and pain releif for nervous … View Profile

    we have today in dentistry  many simple wasy of solving this problem including non braces solution s that are inexpensive , also there ar esolution sthat involve simple removable devices …it depends on how badly they are crowded

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  • 13

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    Dr Kevin Jaffar

    Dentist

    Jaffar Dental - Trusted and Established since 1997. We are a family owned General Dental Practice offering a friendly and caring environment in Waterford QLD. … View Profile

    Orthodontic treatment can very successfully correct crowding at any age now. Traditional wires or an invisible technique can be carried out.

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  • 4

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    Dr Daniel Kaufman

    Dentist

    Dr Kaufman provides professional and high quality dental care with a very gentle touch, resulting in an authentic relaxed experience for his patients. He takes … View Profile

    The crowding in teeth is a result of a discrepancy between the size of the teeth and the jaw. The crowding does tend to increase as we get older and it would be wise to start by an assesment with an orthodontist to get a plan. The treatment time is dependent on the position of the teeth.

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  • 13

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    Dr Andrew Chang

    Dentist, Orthodontist

    We are a specialist orthodontic practice, focused on creating beautiful, healthy and functional smiles, and on you. We are located in the Western Suburbs of … View Profile

    Hi There,

    I have encountered similar situations and I agree with Richard Mumford on the options available for you.

    Generally speaking, if your upper teeth is reasonably straight and if you do not have a deep vertical front teeth overlap, then lower teeth braces is often sufficient to address your concerns. If the crowding is mild to moderate , then it can be within the scope of teeth straightening without removing teeth. Treatment time in this instance takes 5-10months.

    For severe crowding where you see double layers of teeth, teeth removal would probably be required, and braces to close spaces. For how health funds operate, I think they have a lifetime cover. So if u were under your parents family cover before but now have moved to your own cover, you would probably be entitled to some rebate from your health fund.

    It is important for you to clarify this with your health fund B4 u start braces treatment, as the fine print can vary, and generally most orthodontists would be able to provide you the information you need ie: the health fund codes and duration of payment plan , for you to obtain this info from your health fund ( we are restricted from finding this on your behalf due to privacy laws)

     Long term retainer wear after is recommended. In this case, a fixed retainer behind your teeth may be preferable at the end of treatment.

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