Do you feel self-conscious about your uneven smile? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people are born with an uneven smile, and it can be a source of insecurity for some. Fortunately, there are ways to fix an uneven smile. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the various options available to you. So if you’re ready to start smiling with confidence, keep reading!
What Causes a Crooked Smile?
An uneven smile can be attributed to multiple factors both serious and simple. The simple answer as to why your smile may look crooked are things such as crooked or misaligned teeth, or uneven gum lines. Although these issues may cause your smile to appear uneven, they typically do not physically cause a crooked smile to occur. On a more serious note, when a patient experiences damage such as a stroke, bell’s palsy, or facial paralysis, this can cause facial weakness resulting in a more severe uneven smile.
How do I Fix My Smile?
When it comes to fixing a smile that is uneven, the severity and cause should be evaluated first. Misaligned teeth can be fixed with braces or invisalign, and uneven gum lines can be helped by surgically reshaping the gum tissue. When attempting to fix a crooked smile that is attributed to a more serious issue, a number of different approaches may be implemented.
Mouth Exercises
Working out some of your key facial muscles can change the appearance of your smile. These exercises help to tone and strengthen facial muscles in order to give the look of a more even smile. Exercises such as these are utilized in physical therapy, as well as occupational therapy settings as well.
Botox
Botox injections to lessen the appearance of a crooked smile are a much less publicized way of utilizing them. However, using botox injections essentially paralyzes the injection site, which lessens the pull of the muscles that cause the uneven look. This is a minimally invasive way to correct a crooked smile.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial teeth that are implanted into your jawbone via surgery. They are more permanent than dentures, and can be used to replace a singular tooth or all teeth. If you want to permanently alter the appearance of your teeth further than braces or invisalign could, implants may be the option for you. If you want to learn more about dental implants and how Wilmington can provide them for you, check out our information page all about them.
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Significant bone, tissue, and jaw loss can result from extreme facial trauma. When the degeneration becomes this problematic, a specialized surgeon should be consulted in order to decide next steps. Full mouth reconstruction can be done to treat the intricate structures around the mouth and jaw which, in turn, can fix an uneven smile. With our full mouth reconstructive services, Wilmington’s experienced team can help recover the function, appearance and health of your mouth and jaw.
If you’re unhappy with your smile, know that you have options to help fix the problem. You can start by trying some simple at-home mouth exercises or speaking to a dentist about botox or implants. In more serious cases, you may need full mouth reconstruction. No matter what, there is a treatment option available to help improve the appearance of your smile and boost your confidence.
