Can an Orthodontist Straighten Just a Couple Teeth?

When you look in the mirror, do you see some slight alignment issues affecting just a couple of your teeth? You may not think it’s worth seeing an orthodontist because there’s no way they would fix just a couple of teeth. After all, it’s always harder to get a contractor out to fix a small problem at your house than to do a large project, right?

Well, think again! If you’re dealing with an issue affecting even just one or two teeth, your orthodontist is happy to help. In fact, fixing just a few teeth can help you avoid many orthodontic and dental problems that can occur later on. 

Reasons for Straightening a Couple Teeth

For those with some alignment issues affecting just a couple of teeth, there are options available to help correct these issues without having a full set of braces put on your teeth. For instance, patients with issues on the top or bottom teeth can benefit from treatment just in those areas. Patients may have issues with a couple of teeth in the front or back of the mouth, which can be addressed as well. Even just a bite issue, a couple of crowded teeth, or a gap between two teeth can be fixed.

Different orthodontists will approach minor crookedness or crowding in different ways. The key thing to remember here is not only to do some orthodontists offer comprehensive treatment, they also offer treatment for just a few teeth, so don’t think that your smile can’t be corrected!

Your Treatment Options

There are a few different options if you’re looking to straighten just a couple of teeth. These can vary based on your orthodontist, but some of these options include:

• Partial braces
• Invisalign

Partial braces are just that, a smaller set of brackets and wires that are placed only in the places needing treatment. This can include only the top teeth, only the bottom teeth, a few teeth in the front or back of the mouth, and everywhere in between. Invisalign clear aligners are also an effective way to treat isolated issues, and there are a variety of different Invisalign products catered to your needs.

For example, if you have just a couple of slightly crooked teeth, Invisalign Express may be used because it is designed to fix one or two minor problems. If you have a larger gap than Express can handle, Invisalign Lite may be the best treatment for you because it can handle slightly more challenging issues.

What Does Straightening a Few Teeth Cost?

Typically, it takes way less time for your orthodontic treatment to correct just a few teeth rather than fixing severe issues. Which makes straightening one or two teeth cost less than undergoing orthodontic treatment for your whole mouth. For patients that opt for an aligner treatment like Invisalign, the cost is significantly cheaper when it is just a minor issue that takes less time to fix. 

How to  Straighten One Tooth

The misalignment of a single tooth can undermine your whole smile leading to lower confidence as well as the potential for oral health issues. The misalignment from a single tooth can be a direct cause of thumb sucking or from a previous facial injury. To fix a singular tooth, having orthodontic treatment such as partial braces treats just the affected area of the mouth in a fraction of the time it takes for full orthodontic treatment of the entire mouth. 

Another popular option is wearing removable aligners such as Invisalign, such as Invisalign Express. This treatment style works the same way as typical Invisalign treatment except it is designed to fix just one or two issues, and patients have to wear the aligners for less time. 

Why Only One Tooth or Two Teeth May be Crooked

A single crooked tooth is typically the result of the overcrowding of teeth or a narrow roof of the mouth. When teeth are all jostling for room in the mouth, one or two teeth may get shifted to make room. Another reason one or two teeth may be misaligned is from an early loss of baby teeth. If a patient loses baby teeth before their mouth and jaw have grown to accommodate adult teeth, those bigger adult teeth will shift in undesired positions to make room in the small space. Additionally, a tooth can become misaligned from poor swallowing reflexes or from tongue thrust.  Poor swallowing habits can cause the tongue to press against the same place in the front teeth, shifting that tooth over time. 

While a single crooked tooth may just appear to be a surface-level problem, the issue can lead to an increased risk of bacteria in the mouth where the surrounding area of the crooked teeth may be harder to clean. A crooked tooth can also be more susceptible to discoloration. If the tooth is misaligned in such a way that just that tooth takes most of the force of a bite, that tooth can get cracked which is very painful.

The Right Treatment to Straighten a Couple of Teeth

Finding the right treatment starts with the right orthodontist. Speak with your orthodontist about your concerns and discuss your options for treatment. So often, people think they can’t fix just a couple of teeth, but that’s entirely incorrect! With the options available today and new treatment methods in the field of orthodontics emerging each year, having a perfect smile is attainable, no matter where you begin.

The first step starts with you. If you have a couple of teeth that need to be corrected, speak with your orthodontist about treatment. It’s time to get the beautiful smile that you deserve!

Is It Worth it?

It’s hard to put a price on a confident, brilliant smile. However, straightening one or two teeth now can save you from much more expensive orthodontic and dental procedures due to complications from the misaligned tooth in the future. With treatment being fast and affordable, it’s always best to fix a minor problem while it is still minor.