Straight Teeth.What should they look like?
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What straight teeth should look like…
Do you feel that your understanding of the term “straight teeth” is incomplete? You’re not alone because most people focus on what is visible when you smile and that is usually the front six teeth!
Straight teeth should be assessed on the basis of 32 adult, healthy, working teeth arranged correctly in the upper and lower jaws. The relationship between all teeth, adjacent and opposing, within each jaw should be harmonious and aesthetic.
Not everybody can conform to the ideal or perfect ‘dental arrangement’ because of differences in tooth shape, size, bone structure and racial characteristics. However, aesthetic professionals agree that there is no ‘normal’ because of this variability! When analysed from different viewpoints there are five key features that need to be demonstrated for your orthodontist to be satisfied that your teeth are straight. Here we lay them out for you in plain language.
Straight teeth should be assessed on the basis of 32 adult, healthy, working teeth arranged correctly in the upper and lower jaws. The relationship between all teeth, adjacent and opposing, within each jaw should be harmonious and aesthetic.
Not everybody can conform to the ideal or perfect ‘dental arrangement’ because of differences in tooth shape, size, bone structure and racial characteristics. However, aesthetic professionals agree that there is no ‘normal’ because of this variability! When analysed from different viewpoints there are five key features that need to be demonstrated for your orthodontist to be satisfied that your teeth are straight. Here we lay them out for you in plain language.
What should it look like when
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What should it look like from the side?When teeth are viewed from the side there should be an obvious cog-like arrangement, in the same way gears fit together. This aspect of straightness is an indication that your teeth can function properly when you bite together. If you are having difficulty with biting, you may have a problem with overjet or your overbite, which are described next.
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What is overbite?When your teeth are together the upper teeth should overlap the lowers – this is defined as overbite. In a perfect smile, the upper teeth should cover no more than 30% of the lowers (the difference between the red and green line). If there is no overbite and your front teeth meet at the top edges, they will wear down rapidly (reduced overbite and attrition). Deep bite occurs when your teeth overlap too much causing injury to the gums and teeth behind the upper arch.
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What is overjet?Overjet is the extent to which the front top teeth protrude past the lower front teeth. This is represented by the arrows on the diagram. Preferably, overjet should be between 2 to 4 mm, however this can differ depending on the extent to which your jaws grow. Observe the diagram to see that the upper and lower front teeth stick forward slightly, this is important because they provide a surface on which the upper and lower lips rest (lip support).
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