What causes crooked teeth?

There are several reasons why some people's teeth grow in crooked, overlapping, or twisted. Some people's mouths are too small for their teeth, which crowds the teeth and causes them to shift. In other cases, a person's upper and lower jaws aren't the same size or are malformed. Most often, crooked teeth are inherited traits just as the color of your eyes or hair. Other causes of crooked teeth are early loss of baby or adult teeth, undue pressure on the teeth and gums, misalignment of jaw after facial injury, or common oral health problems in children such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or prolonged use of a bottle or pacifier.

Having crooked teeth isn’t just a cosmetic issue; it can lead to serious health problems as well. Crooked teeth can:

• interfere with proper chewing
• make keeping teeth clean more of a challenge, increasing the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis
• strain the teeth, jaws, and muscles, increasing the risk of breaking a tooth

There are several orthodontic procedures that can help correct crooked teeth, and at Dr. Stanley Robison's office we have many services that we can customize to meet your needs. We want you to be proud to show off your smile!

Ask Dr. Robison: How long does orthodontic treatment take?

Your smile is totally unique, so the time you’ll need to spend undergoing orthodontic treatment will also be unique. Generally, orthodontic treatment will take about two years, and this is for good reason. During this time, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions, leaving you with a great smile with as little discomfort as possible. Rushing treatment can result in a less than perfect smile with a greater chance of tooth movement after your treatment is complete. At Dr. Stanley Robison's office, we don’t want to waste your time with treatment that won’t retain your smile for the rest of your life.

Of course, treatment time will vary depending on your specific situation. Very minor tooth movement may only take a few months to correct, while serious malocclusion (poor bite) may need more than two years to correct. Only Dr. Robison will be able to accurately estimate the time your treatment will take. But trust us—it’ll all be worth it in the end!

Has your child or teen visited Dr. Robison's office for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help him or her begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

Flossing with Braces 101

Dr. Stanley Robison will tell you that keeping your teeth clean is more important than ever when you have braces. Food bits have more spots than usual to hide in your mouth, so you must be diligent in order to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth and cavities. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you'll experience better results and could possibly reduce your treatment time. 

We encourage you to watch the video above to learn how to floss effectively with braces. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask us at the office, or on our Facebook page!

Straighter teeth with Insignia, from Dr. Stanley Robison

For many patients, the idea of having braces can be intimidating so Dr. Stanley Robison offers the latest orthodontic treatments like Insignia. Insignia is an interactive software system that allows you and your doctor to create the unique smile you want. This technology uses highly sophisticated 3-D software to manufacture custom brackets specific for each individual patient. This allows Dr. Robison to simulate final outcomes prior to the start of treatment. It’s a precise, start-to-finish process delivering maximum clinical and practice efficiency. For more information and to see some great videos about Insignia, be sure to check
out these videos.



If you're considering orthodontic treatment for you or a family member, please contact our practice and schedule an appointment. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about braces and the new Insignia orthodontic system.