A misaligned midline is a common issue among adult patience and simply means that the center of your upper teeth and lower teeth do not line up. Often, misalignment of the midline is a cosmetic issue but can lead to other more severe problems such as malocclusion and TMJ problems as well as tooth decay and fracture.
The most common treatment options to fix a midline is orthodontic treatment and dental veneers. Depending on the severity of your case, your dentist will review your options and help you choose the best treatment for your individual case.
Fixing Misaligned Midline
Orthodontic treatment works to gently push, pull, and rotate your teeth into alignment with either braces or clear aligners and is an excellent option to fix a midline or other alignment issues. Porcelain veneers can not only correct a midline, they can overhaul your entire smile. Veneers can change the size, shape, and color of your teeth.
Patients with a more severe case of misalignment will do best with orthodontic treatment.
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces use metal brackets cemented onto each tooth and an arch wire threaded through the brackets, affixed to each using plastic bands. The wire is periodically tightened throughout the treatment process to shift each tooth into alignment.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners work just like braces but instead of brackets and wires, a series of clear plastic trays are used to gently shift the teeth. The trays fit over the entire arch on the top and bottom, covering the whole crown of the teeth. Each set of trays is worn for 20 to 22 hours per day for about two weeks. The trays progressively shift the teeth into alignment and is a faster, more comfortable process than traditional braces.
Once orthodontic treatment is complete, you will receive a custom retainer. You will need to wear your retainers all day for a few months while your jaw bone and gum tissue recover from treatment. When your doctor finds that your jaw bone and gums are healthy and stable, you will wear your retainer just when you sleep. This will keep your teeth in their new aligned position.
Porcelain Veneers
Dental veneers are made of a thin porcelain and are individually placed onto each tooth, effectively giving the appearance of aligned teeth. They are only used on the front surface of the anterior teeth and are the quickest treatment option for correcting the midline. Veneers have the added benefit of correcting shape and color if that is something you wish to improve.
While a misaligned midline is commonly an anesthetic issue, it does have the potential of causing major issues down the road. If you are uncomfortable with your smile or begin to experience changes in the way your teeth come together, speak with your dentist to see if you should have treatment for a misaligned midline.