Uneven Teeth: Causes, Impacts, and How Smilepath Can Restore Your Smile

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a close up image of  misaligned teeth

If your teeth are irregular in size, shape, position, or alignment, you have uneven teeth. This condition is also called dental crowding. Uneven teeth are very common in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Dental Association 78% school-going kids have uneven teeth. They don't just kill your smile, they can also impact your oral health. They can make it hard to bite and chew food, which can lead to serious dental issues. Uneven teeth can also lead to gum diseases and cavities, as cleaning misaligned teeth is much harder.

There are several reasons your teeth might be misaligned, such as genetics, habits, early tooth loss, and other factors. Fortunately, uneven teeth can be corrected with clear aligners from Smilepath. In this blog, we’ll discuss the causes of misaligned teeth, why addressing the issue matters, and how Smilepath’s simple and cost-effective solutions can help you get the smile you’ve always desired.

Causes Of Uneven Teeth

There can be multiple causes of uneven teeth, the most common are

Genetics

You can have uneven teeth naturally because of your genetics. If you have a dental misalignment in your genes, most of your family members will have uneven teeth.

Delayed orthodontic care

If you ignore some sort of dental problem for a long time, it can weaken your teeth. This can lead to uneven teeth.

Early tooth loss

If you lost your baby teeth early, you had space for a long time. The surrounding teeth can grow in that space, leaving no room for the coming teeth to grow properly.

Bad habits

Bad oral habits in childhood like thumb sucking are a big reason for uneven teeth as well. These habits can cause continuous pressure on your teeth and jaws or weaken your enamel, leading to uneven teeth.

Injuries

Any accident or sports injury can disturb your teeth and the structure of your jaw. Any problem in the structure of your jaw can be a very serious issue. It will not just lead to uneven teeth, a severe case may even need oral surgery.

Why Address Uneven Teeth?

It is important to treat your uneven teeth as soon as possible, this helps you avoid bigger issues in the future.

Promote Dental Health

As mentioned earlier misaligned teeth are harder to clean. Why? Because overlapping, twisted, uneven teeth create spaces that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush.

Improved Chewing & Digestion

Well-aligned or straight teeth will help you break down food easily for better digestion. You don't have to put extra pressure on certain teeth to chew food. It will save you from pain and swelling in your jaw.

Relief From Jaw Pain

Misaligned teeth can place excessive pressure on your jaw, which may contribute to TMJ issues, discomfort, and pain.

Prevention of Tooth Wear & Damage

When teeth are misaligned, they often don’t meet evenly when you bite or chew. This uneven pressure can cause certain teeth to bear more force than others, leading to excessive wear and tear over time.

Clearer Speech

When there are spaces between the teeth it can make pronouncing certain sounds more difficult such as sounds "s," "sh," "ch," and "th."

Boosted Confidence

A straight smile can enhance self-esteem in social and professional gatherings. You can smile, laugh, and talk confidently, without feeling ashamed or hiding your teeth.

Lower Long-Term Costs

If you want to avoid costly treatments and procedures, investing in teeth straightening today can prove to be very beneficial.

Treatment options for uneven teeth in New Zealand

In New Zealand, you can straighten your uneven teeth using braces, clear aligners, veneers, and other options. Let's discuss them one by one and see what the best option is for you.

Traditional Braces

A woman wearing traditional braces to straighten teeth
traditional braces for teeth straightening

Traditional metal braces are the most common method used to treat misaligned teeth worldwide. A metallic wire is fixed to your teeth with the help of the metal brackets. The archwire is then either loosened or tightened by the dentist to achieve the desired teeth alignment. Since the metal in the mouth is pretty visible, there are now more aesthetic options available in the market, including ceramic braces and lingual braces.

Cost: You can buy traditional braces from $3,000 to $13,000, depending on the type of braces and the dentist you choose.

Duration: Braces typically take 1-3 years or even more to align your teeth, depending on the severity of your case.

Comfort: Metal wires in your mouth feel uncomfortable, there is the risk of cuts and damage to your tongue, and you have some restrictions on eating food as well.

Clear aligners

A woman wearing clear aligners to straighten teeth
Clear aligners for teeth straightening

Thinking about an aesthetic smile journey with definitive results? Choose clear aligners! They are a modern and convenient alternative to traditional teeth straightening methods. They are customized plastic trays to put in your mouth. They also apply the same kind of pressure on your teeth and jaws to align them, but they solve all the cons of braces. They are affordable, faster, comfortable, and invisible.

Cost: Clear aligner from Smilepath costs only $1849-$2049 only.

Duration: Clear aligners take 4-8 months to straighten your teeth to give you a perfect smile.

Comfort: Aligners are very comfortable as compared to braces. No risk of any injury or cuts from wires, and no restrictions on food.

Dental bonding

Dental bonding is a technique used to make your teeth look straight. Dental bonding is a cosmetic technique that employs tooth-colored composite resin to improve your smile. This treatment is used to repair chips, correct gaps, or change the shape or color of a tooth.

Cost: Dental bonding can cost from $200-$500 per tooth.

Duration: It is a cosmetic process, so it is quick. It can be done in 30-60 minutes or even less.

Comfort: Dental bonding is a comfortable and painless solution to straighten your teeth because there is no enamel removal or drilling required.

Veneers

Dental veneers are custom-made shells that cover the front surfaces of your teeth. They hide cracks, chips, stains, and other cosmetic defects. Veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments. Depending on your individual needs, you can choose from a variety of veneer options.

Cost: Veneers cost $450-$2350 for each tooth, depending on the type of veneers you choose.

Duration: It can take up to 2 hours to fix veneers in front of your teeth.

Comfort: Veneers are comfortable, painless, and work like natural teeth.

Treatment Option Cost Duration Comfort
Braces $3,000 - $13,000 1-3 years or more Uncomfortable, risk of cuts, food restrictions
Clear Aligners $1,849 - $2,049 4-8 months Comfortable, no risk of cuts, no food restrictions
Dental Bonding $200 - $500 per tooth 30-60 minutes Comfortable, painless, no enamel removal or drilling
Veneers $450 - $2,350 per tooth Up to 2 hours Comfortable, painless, functions like natural teeth

This comparison proves that aligners are the best, most effective, affordable, and comfortable solution to straighten your teeth.

Why Choose Smilepath?

Smilepath is the best choice for buying clear aligners. We don't just sell aligners, we give you a complete dental treatment, until you are satisfied with your smile. Here is how Smilepath is different from other brands:

Affordable

We offer top-quality aligners at affordable prices. All-day aligners for just $1849 and NightOnly aligners for $2049. Other brands in New Zealand are charging $3,500 to $8,000 and even more for clear aligners.

Fully Remote Treatment

Smilepath understands the value of your time. We know you have a busy schedule, and you can't visit the dentist repeatedly. Smilepath’s fully remote treatment plan doesn't require you to visit the dentist even for a single time.

24/7 Customer Support

Our smile specialists are available 24/7 to answer your queries. If you are facing any issues feel free to contact them anytime.

Free Retainers

Smilepath doesn't just give you a set of aligners, we offer a complete oral treatment. Smilepath gives a free set of retainers and a whitening kit to achieve a perfect smile.

Lifestyle Factors Affecting the Teeth

Some lifestyle factors affect the teeth of kiwis, include:

High Participation in Contact Sports: The people of New Zealand are very active in sports. According to a survey, 95% of young people and 73% of adults take part in any kind of sport every week. Rugby union being the national sport, is very common all over New Zealand. Football, Netball, Basketball, Boxing, and Cricket are played very often. These sports are at high risk of facial and mouth injuries, which leads to uneven teeth.

Dietary Patterns: Traditional diets were not just tasty, they were healthy for your teeth, bones, and jaw. Whereas modern diets including fast food, processed foods, and cold and hot beverages directly affect your teeth. They weaken your teeth, and cause sensitivity, leading to uneven teeth, tooth decay, and misalignment. The eating habits of the young generation are affecting their teeth.

Do Public Health Care Options Cover Uneven Teeth?

You can choose between public health care options or private ones like Smilepath. Public dental care is cheaper if not free, but it has many problems, including:

  • Long waiting times: due to limited funding and high demand, you might have to wait for a long time to treat your dental problems.
  • Limited availability: Public-funded orthodontic treatments are available for severe cases where uneven teeth affect dental functions.
  • Eligibility restrictions: Many standard orthodontic treatments like clear aligners are not covered by public health care.

Private orthodontic treatments are not free, but Smilepath makes them affordable for you. The benefits of choosing Smilepath are:

  • No Waiting Lists: You don't have to wait long times, your treatment can start on the same or next day.
  • Flexible Payment Plans: If you are short on budget, you can opt for interest-free monthly installments.
  • Personalized Treatment: At Smilepath every set of aligners is custom-made for you, so there are no restrictions on your treatment.

Final Thoughts

Uneven teeth are very common in New Zealand, 60-75% of kiwis have uneven teeth. There can be multiple causes for it, from genetics, bad habits, injuries, and more. It can kill the beauty of your smile and cause problems in your bite. Mild to moderate dental misalignment can be treated using multiple techniques. After comparing all of them, we derived that aligners are the best of them. Smilepath offers the best teeth straightening treatment at affordable pricing.

Ready to transform your uneven smile?
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FAQ’s

How much do Smilepath clear aligners cost?

Clear aligner from Smilepath cost only $1849-$2049. Whereas the average cost of clear aligners in New Zealand is $3500-8000 from other brands.

How long do teeth straightening treatment take with Smilepath aligners?

Smilepath clear aligners take only 4-8 months to treat mild to moderate levels of crowding.

Do I need to visit a dentist's office for Smilepath treatment?

With Smilepath you don't need to visit the dentist even once. The entire process is done remotely.

What's included in the Smilepath treatment package?

The Smilepath treatment package contains an Impression kit, a prepaid shipping label, a set of aligners, a free set of retainers, and a whitening kit.

Can genetic factors cause uneven teeth, and can they still be treated?

Yes, they can cause uneven teeth and they can be treated using Smilepath’s clear aligners.

Citations

Carleton, C. (2024, August 6). The science behind Crooked Teeth: Everything you need to know. Orthodontics New Zealand. https://www.orthodontists.org.nz/the-science-behind-crooked-teeth/

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