Crowded Teeth Causes, Problems and Treatments for Children and Adults

Crowded teeth can occur at any age, resulting in teeth which are misaligned to some degree. This can affect oral health as well as appearance, so dentists will keep an eye on crowded baby teeth and may recommend crowded teeth correction in children. Cosmetic dentistry for crowded teeth is also common among adults; treatment options include veneers, Invisalign, and other types of braces.

Before you make the decision about how to go about fixing your crowded teeth, you can read this orthodontics guide we’ve put together about the options for both children and adults. We will share with you the answer to the question: What is teeth crowding? Along with the following information:

• Causes of crowded teeth
• Crowded teeth symptoms
• Problems that result from crowded teeth
• Solutions to fix your crowded teeth
• Crowded teeth and pain
• Before and after teeth crowding treatment
• Answers to some common questions about overcrowding teeth

Both crowded lower teeth and upper teeth can require fixing, but treatment is often relatively simple. If cost is a concern, we'll talk you through some of the cheaper ways to fix crowded teeth, including clear aligners which let you complete your treatment completely remotely, from home.

What causes crowded teeth?

There are quite a few reasons that people encounter crowded teeth problems. Some of the most common are:

• Thumb and pacifier sucking
• An underdeveloped jaw bone
• Different sized teeth
• Irregular eruption of permanent teeth
• Cleft lip and palate issues
• Having extra teeth (You can read about how many teeth adults have)
• Getting older

Most of these issues can be spotted in children; however, crowded teeth problems tend to get worse with age. As we grow older our faces are constantly changing, including the jaw. The teeth, especially the lower teeth, are likely to move around and start to become crooked, so it's common for adults to want to fix overcrowded bottom teeth.

The eruption of wisdom teeth doesn't cause overcrowding in your other teeth. Although third molars can cause many problems as they come through, research has shown that they don't exert enough force on the other teeth to alter their position. The pain people feel with wisdom teeth is because your mouth is too crowded for your wisdom teeth to grow in, but not because wisdom teeth cause other teeth to crowd. 

Do crowded teeth cause problems?

If your teeth feel crowded or look out of line, this can lead to problems such as:

• An increase in the build-up of plaque and bacteria because of difficulty cleaning between teeth
• Accelerated tooth decay
• Gum disease, or gingivitis
• Unusual wear patterns on your teeth
• Speech problems
• Low self-esteem

These oral hygiene problems combined with the unhappiness you might feel about not having straight teeth may well lead you to seek treatment.

Fixing crowded teeth 

There is a range of teeth straightening options for fixing crowded top teeth, bottom teeth, or both. Which one is suitable for you will depend on the severity of the crowding and how much you are willing to spend to fix your teeth.

Medicaid and CHIP provide free treatment to fix crowded teeth with braces in children, provided the overcrowding is severe enough for the treatment to be deemed medically necessary. Where only minor crowding is present, however, private treatment may be the only option. You can read more about Medicaid eligibility criteria in our guide to Medicare and Medicaid dental insurance.

Because the state-funded health insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic dentistry, crowded teeth treatment for adults will usually need to be done privately. There may be some exceptions for the most severe cases which weren't treated in childhood, for whatever reason.

Let's go through the various treatment options for teeth overcrowding in adults and children, along with the pros and cons of each. You'll find information about costs in the table a little further down.

Crowded teeth and braces

The first thing that probably comes to mind when you think about fixing crowded teeth is braces. It's true that this is the most common treatment, particularly for more severe overcrowding cases, but there are different types of braces to consider depending on various factors including severity and where your crowding is: Do you have front teeth crowding, lower teeth crowding, back teeth crowding?

Permanent braces are metal or ceramic brackets that are bonded to your teeth and connected by a metal wire. They work by putting pressure on your teeth to slowly and gently move them around your mouth. The benefit of ceramic braces is that they are clear or tooth-colored, making them much less noticeable. 

Children receiving free treatment from Medicaid or CHIP will probably only be offered metal braces; any other styles must be paid for privately. Kids may also be able to choose colors for braces.  

Does Invisalign work for crowded teeth?

It's possible to use invisible braces such as the brand Invisalign for crowded teeth, too. These systems use a series of clear plastic aligners, usually changed every two weeks, to move your teeth in small increments. Treatment with Invisalign for crowded front teeth can be over reasonably quickly; the Invisalign Express system is designed for mild alignment problems and typically takes 6-8 months.

For more moderate cases of overcrowding, invisible braces treatment might take 18 months or more.

Because aligner braces are clear and are made to fit perfectly over your teeth, no matter how long you need them for, most people won’t notice them.

Fixing crowded teeth at home

If you don't have time to go to the dentist regularly or the money to pay for expensive braces treatment, you may want to try at-home aligners.

At-home aligners are invisible and cost between $1,200 and $2,400 depending on the brand and type of treatment. What's more, you don't have to take time off of work to go to the dentist—all treatment is supervised by a dentist or orthodontist remotely. The other important difference is that they are only suitable for mild and some moderate bite problems. Anyone with a severe malocclusion should visit a dentist directly.

There are many brands offering home teeth straightening treatment, but not all provide the same quality of care and customer service. Take a look at some of the top brands available and see which would be the best match for your needs:

If you're interested in this type of treatment but not ready to commit just yet, you can begin by just taking a free assessment to check your eligibility.

Veneers for crowded teeth

Another possible crowded teeth treatment without braces is veneers, provided the crowding and crookedness isn’t too severe. To have a veneer fitted, your dentist will shave away some of the enamel on your existing tooth and apply a composite or porcelain cover. A detailed description of the process and different options can be found in our guide to veneers.

Veneers don't actually straighten your teeth; they just make them appear straighter by covering up the crooked parts. From an esthetic perspective, this works really well, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problems that come from having crowded teeth. Your other teeth may start crowding because the pressures moving your teeth are still present.

Since veneers for crowded teeth are purely cosmetic, they won’t be covered by state-funded insurance. Also, they aren’t a suitable solution for children with crowded teeth, who will usually be directed to braces.

Crowns

Another possible treatment for adults is having crowns fitted. This involves removing a lot of the tooth structure and fitting a metal or porcelain cap over the top. You can read more about dental crowns here.

Although crowns can be effective at making your top teeth or bottom teeth look straight again, they are not always the best option. Fitting a crown involves removing a lot of healthy tooth, and a lot of dentists would advise against having this procedure for purely cosmetic reasons.

If you do think this is an option you want to explore, speak with your dentist.

Summary of crowded teeth treatment options

Here a summary of the treatments and costs we've covered for fixing crowded teeth:

Conclusion

As we get older, it's natural for our teeth to become a bit crooked, especially in the lower jaw. Braces, clear aligners and veneers are all possible treatments if you want to restore your smile.

Invisalign is the leading brand of invisible brace, but its high cost makes it inaccessible to many people. If you're considering saving money with at-home aligners, take a look at our pages on Candid, ALIGNERCO reviews, NewSmile, Byte and Smile Direct to see which would be most suitable for you.

In children, overcrowding can be treated reasonably easily. Make sure that your child wears their retainer after treatment so that teeth crowding is less likely to re-occur as they get older.

If you decide not to correct your crowded teeth, you'll need to pay special attention to your oral hygiene in order to minimize your risk of tooth decay. A water flosser may help you keep the irregular spaces between your teeth clean.

FAQs

Do I need teeth removed for crowded teeth treatments?

It depends on your personal situation. Some people are born with extra teeth – a condition called hyperdontia – and in this case, the extra teeth will need to be extracted. Sometimes dentists may want to extract normal teeth (including wisdom teeth) to make room for movement with braces.

Not all dentists approve of removing healthy teeth. Remember that you’re entitled to a second opinion if you or your child are recommended to have teeth removed as part of crowded teeth treatment. A less severe way to make space before applying braces is to file the teeth down slightly (interproximal reduction), but this isn't always an option. And an even more common way to make space is by using spacers for teeth before braces.

Here, Dr. Loh shares a case where he didn’t need to extract teeth to get great results:

How do braces work on crowded teeth and how long does it take?

Braces attach to your teeth, applying pressure on them and pulling them into the right position. Invisalign invisible braces work in much the same way – they move your teeth into the desired position.

The main difference when using Invisalign for crowded front teeth, as opposed to metal braces, is that they can’t easily be seen, and you can remove them for eating and cleaning. The timescale for treating crowded teeth with braces usually ranges from 6-24 months.

How long does Invisalign take for crowded teeth?

One of the big plus points of using Invisalign for crowded teeth is how quick treatment can be. The severity of your misalignment will determine the duration of your treatment. However, mildly crowded teeth can often be treated with Invisalign Lite, which takes just 6-8 months.

What are the best braces for treating overcrowding?

This is all going to come down to the severity of your condition. If you don't want it to be obvious that you're wearing braces, invisible aligners could be the best choice for you. If you are more concerned with cost than appearance, or if your teeth are severely crowded, metal braces may be a better option.

Another affordable option is at-home aligners, which can treat mild to moderate cases of teeth crowding.

How do I fix crowded teeth at home?

If you're wondering about homemade solutions for teeth straightening, please, don’t try! There is no way that you’ll be able to fix your teeth that way, and you'll end up damaging your teeth.

The cost of braces or other treatment might seem unmanageable, but there are ways to make dentistry more affordable, such as dental discount plans, dental tourism, and more.

You can also consider at-home clear aligners, which can cost up to 75% less than Invisalign and are effective for mild to moderate cases.

I have crowded bottom teeth, is it normal to feel pain?

When you have bottom teeth crowding, it isn't normal to feel pain. Because crowded bottom teeth can lead to tooth decay, it is likely this is what is causing your pain. Pain in your teeth – crowded or straight – is best not to be ignored; please visit a dentist for an assessment.

What will my teeth look like after treatment?

There are two ways that you can see what your teeth will look like after treatment. First, you can ask your dentist to see pictures of previous patients’ crowded teeth before and after treatment. This should give you a general idea of how your smile will improve.

Your dentist may also be able to do a computer simulation to show you what your smile will look like after treatment. If you opt for Invisalign, you will automatically receive a simulation of your smile transformation.

This video has some examples of teeth treated with Invisalign, including before and after pictures and information about treatment times:

My bottom teeth are crowding after braces treatment, why?

Braces for crowded teeth aren’t a permanent fix for every dental issue. Even if you have had braces as a teenager, it won’t always stop your teeth from becoming crowded again later. It is a part of the natural ageing process, just as your skin develops wrinkles!

However, if you notice that you have crowded teeth again soon after your braces treatment has finished, then visit your dentist. They may need to make adjustments to your retainers or offer further treatment.