Why teeth crowd, and why it is worth treating
Crowding is the most common reason people come to see an orthodontist, and the cause is nearly always the same: the teeth are slightly too big for the space the jaw gives them, so they overlap, rotate and jostle for room. It tends to run in families, and it can become more obvious in the teens as the last adult teeth push through, or slowly in adulthood as the teeth settle forward. Crowding ranges from one slightly turned tooth to teeth that overlap right across the smile, and the more crowded they are, the more room has to be found.
Straightening crowded teeth is not only about appearance, though a tidy smile is a lovely result. Overlapped teeth trap food and are hard to brush and floss cleanly, which over time invites decay and gum trouble in exactly the spots you cannot reach. Easing the crowding lets you keep your own teeth healthier for longer, which is the part your future self will quietly thank you for.
Making room without removing teeth
The question everyone asks is whether teeth have to come out. For most people the answer is no. Wherever it is clinically possible, Dr. Catherine McLeod makes room by gently developing the arch and using precise tooth movement, keeping your healthy adult teeth where they belong. Patients tell us this conservative, tooth-preserving approach is one of the main reasons they chose Embrace Orthodontics. A small number of crowded cases genuinely do need an extraction, and she will always explain why before recommending it. How the space is made depends on how much crowding there is, how the teeth are angled, and the health of the gums and bone supporting them.
If you have already been told that several teeth must be removed, it is worth a calm second look. A free second opinion costs you nothing and sometimes opens up a gentler plan you were not offered first time around.
Your options, and what to expect
Most crowding can be treated with either braces or clear aligners, and the better choice depends on how much crowding there is and how you would like to go about it. Your first visit is a free consultation on Spring Garden Road in Halifax, with a comfortable iTero digital scan instead of goopy impressions and a written plan and exact quote to take away. Dr. Catherine McLeod is a specialist orthodontist rather than a general dentist, and she plans every case herself, so you always deal with the person doing your treatment.
Timelines vary with the amount of crowding: a mild case can finish in a few months, while a fuller correction more often runs from about a year to a couple of years. Dr. Catherine McLeod gives you an honest estimate for your own smile, along with interest-free monthly options so the cost can be spread comfortably rather than paid all at once.