Straighten Crooked Teeth for Better Health & Lasting Confidence
Tired of feeling self-conscious about your crooked teeth? At Laurel Smiles Dental Care, we help neighbors across Laurel, MD achieve beautifully aligned, healthier smiles—often with discreet, modern orthodontic solutions designed for your comfort and budget.
Crooked bottom teeth aren’t just a cosmetic concern—they can lead to oral hygiene challenges, tooth decay, gum disease, and TMJ pain. We’re here to help you fix crowded or misaligned teeth with personalized care and leading-edge options like Invisalign® and advanced metal braces
Why Straighten Your Teeth Now?
- Protect Your Health: Crooked teeth make it harder to brush and floss, increasing your risk for cavities and gum disease.
- Prevent Wear & Injury: Misaligned teeth can chip, break, or wear down faster due to uneven bite pressure.
- Relieve Jaw Pain: Straightening your teeth can ease TMJ symptoms, such as jaw discomfort, headaches, and clicking sounds.
- Smile with Confidence: Enjoy a straight, vibrant smile you’ll love to show off in Laurel’s community events, at work, and beyond.
Your Crooked Teeth Treatment Options
Invisalign® Clear Aligners
Discreet, removable, and comfortable—Invisalign straightens teeth using clear aligners custom-made just for you. Eat what you want, brush and floss with ease, and enjoy results in as little as 6-18 months for most mild to moderate cases.
- Nearly invisible
- Removable for meals and cleaning
- Fewer office visits
Modern Metal Braces
For more complex cases, we offer low-profile metal braces that use advanced materials for comfort and effectiveness—greatly improved from the braces you may remember as a kid!
- Suitable for moderate to severe crowding
- Smaller, more comfortable brackets
- Personalized care from Laurel’s trusted dental team
Why Choose Laurel Smiles Dental Care?
- Trusted by Laurel Families: See why patients say we’re “the friendliest dental team in Prince George’s County” (Read reviews).
- Upfront Pricing: No hidden fees—get a clear treatment plan before you begin.
- Convenient Appointments: Book online or call 24/7. Same-week consultations often available!
- Local Expertise: Proudly serving Laurel, South Laurel, and surrounding communities.
Ready for a Straighter Smile?
Book your orthodontic consultation today!
Request Appointment | Call 301-490-7007
Or stop by our office at 14440 Cherry Lane Ct Suite 209, Laurel, MD 20707.
Don’t let crooked teeth hold you back. Discover your options with a caring, local team—Laurel Smiles Dental Care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crooked Teeth and Treatment Options
If you are searching for quick answers and questions about crooked teeth, please read through our frequently asked questions. If you do not see your question, please feel free to reach out to our helpful office staff. We offer several treatments for crooked teeth in Laurel, MD.
What Factors Impact the Alignment of Bottom Teeth?
Several factors can play a role in how your lower teeth line up. Some of these relate to the way your mouth and jaw develop, while others come down to habits or past dental experiences. Here are some of the most common contributors:
- Jaw Size and Shape: If your lower jaw is narrow or undersized, your teeth won’t have enough space and may crowd together or overlap.
- Tooth Loss: Losing adult teeth—even just one—can create gaps that allow neighboring teeth to drift out of position.
- Inherited Traits: Genetics can influence both your jaw structure and tooth alignment, so if crooked teeth run in the family, you may be more prone to them as well.
- Premature Loss of Baby Teeth: Losing primary teeth too early can cause permanent teeth to shift as they come in, often leading to misalignment.
- Oral Habits in Childhood: Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use can exert pressure on developing jaws and teeth, pushing them out of their proper spots.
- Improper Dental Care: Without regular dental care, issues like gum disease can set in, weakening the support for your teeth and eventually causing them to move.
Alignment issues with bottom teeth can result from just one of these factors, or a combination. If you’re uncertain about what’s caused yours, we’re always happy to assess your case and recommend the right treatment.
Why Are My Bottom Teeth Crooked?
It’s incredibly common to notice that your lower teeth aren’t perfectly aligned. There are many reasons why this happens, and crooked bottom teeth are certainly not unusual—most people will experience some degree of shifting over time.
Several factors can contribute to crooked or crowded bottom teeth, including:
- Genetics: The size and shape of your jaw, as well as how your teeth erupt, are largely determined by the same genes that decide whether you have curly hair or can roll your tongue.
- Jaw Structure: If your lower jaw is narrower or smaller than your upper jaw (or vice versa), your teeth may not have enough space to line up correctly.
- Crowding: Sometimes, there simply isn’t enough room in your mouth for all your teeth to line up side-by-side, especially if your top row is straight but the bottom is uneven.
- Early Loss of Baby or Adult Teeth: Losing baby teeth or adult teeth prematurely can disturb how the remaining teeth settle, leaving gaps that cause crowding or tilting.
- Habits in Childhood: Thumb sucking, using a pacifier beyond toddler years, or other oral habits can gently push teeth out of place while your mouth is still developing.
- Dental Health Issues: Gum disease and improper oral care can weaken the support your teeth need, leading them to shift or tilt over time.
While there’s little we can do to “rewind” these natural and developmental influences as adults, maintaining excellent oral hygiene and exploring modern orthodontic options can stop issues from progressing and improve your smile’s alignment.
DO MY CROOKED TEETH AUTOMATICALLY MEAN I HAVE TO GET BRACES?
Depending on the severity of your tooth misalignment, you may be eligible for Invisalign treatment. Invisalign is an orthodontic solution that helps patients who have mild to moderate alignment problems avoid metallic braces. The Invisalign clear aligner system works to straighten your teeth slowly, over time.
It involves using a system of clear, plastic aligners that gently put pressure on your teeth. You must wear the aligners for 22 hours a day. You can remove them to eat, brush and floss. About every week, you will switch out the clear aligners. You will need to undergo a consultation before starting treatment. There are some orthodontic issues that Invisalign cannot fix.
Can Teeth Become More Crooked as You Get Older?
Yes, teeth can become more crooked with age. Just like the rest of your body, your mouth changes over time. Teeth naturally shift due to everyday wear, jawbone changes, tooth loss, or even habits like nighttime grinding. Injury, gum disease, or preexisting bite problems can also speed up the movement of your teeth.
Even if your smile was straight in your teens or twenties, it’s common to notice changes as you get older. Orthodontic treatment—whether you choose Invisalign or traditional braces—can help maintain alignment and protect against these age-related shifts. Regular dental checkups and proper oral care are also important for keeping your teeth healthy and in the right position as the years go by.
When Is Oral Surgery Recommended for Crooked Bottom Teeth?
Oral surgery is typically recommended when crooked bottom teeth cannot be corrected with traditional orthodontic solutions like Invisalign or metal braces alone. This is most often the case in severe situations, such as when jaw alignment issues, impacted teeth, or significant bone irregularities are present.
If we determine that your misalignment is tied to the underlying structure of your jaw—rather than just the positioning of the teeth themselves—you may be a candidate for surgical intervention. Oral surgeons can reposition the bones and adjust the gums to provide a stable foundation for aligning your teeth.
Some common reasons oral surgery might be necessary include:
- Impacted teeth that cannot emerge properly without assistance
- Jaw abnormalities or discrepancies in jaw size and shape
- Severe cases of crowding or malocclusion (bad bite) that braces alone cannot correct
Before recommending surgery, we’ll thoroughly evaluate your dental and jaw health, often using X-rays or 3D scans to get a complete picture of your situation. Our goal is always to choose the most conservative and effective treatment plan to give you the best possible results.
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE BRACES?
Most patients who receive braces will need to have them for 18 to 24 months in order to see their desired results. Some patients may need to have them longer, depending on the severity of their orthodontic issues.
WHICH IS BETTER, INVISALIGN OR BRACES?
This will vary from patient to patient. Our first goal is to make sure that whatever treatment option you go with will be the one that most effectively meets your needs. Secondly, it is good to consider the lifestyle changes that both treatment plans require. With metal braces, you will need to be more mindful of the food you eat while you have them so that you don’t damage the braces.
On the other hand, Invisalign requires you to remove the retainers whenever you are eating or drinking anything other than water. You will need to exercise proper willpower with Invisalign, and ensure that you are using them at least 22 hours out of every day to receive your desired results.