Is Misaligned Midline Normal
Despite being a common problem, for many people misaligned midline goes unnoticed. Midline misalignment affects many people, so it is normal and relatively common, but it is only in more severe cases that we realize its impact on facial harmonization.
There are several explanations that lead to this problem, such as inadequate formation of the dental arch and even the early replacement of baby teeth. However, regardless of the origin, it can be a serious problem not only aesthetically, but also for the patient's health.
What is the midline?
When we raise the existence of the midline, we are naming a kind of imaginary axis that divides the central incisors, whether upper or lower. It serves as one of the main panoramas for defining the aesthetically perfect smile. Furthermore, it is not enough to have the upper arch aligned with the lower arch, it is necessary that both are positioned on the same central axis of the face, which explains its importance for facial harmonization.
On the other hand, many people spend their entire lives noticing a lack of this alignment. It is only in more severe cases — greater than 2.3 mm — that this condition becomes harmful to the patient's aesthetics and health.
What are the causes of midline deviation?
The majority of cases in which the patient starts to have this problem are in the transitional dentition phase, more precisely between seven and ten years of age. When there is a large difference between the baby teeth and the permanent teeth and it occurs for a long time, it breaks the chronological growth line, causing the midline deviation.
Another explanation is agenesis, that is, the failure to develop teeth. If they are not born, the space available for their growth is occupied by neighboring teeth. This movement harms the entire dental arch and the midline. For these reasons, follow-up with a pediatric dentist during childhood is so important.
How should it be treated?
There are several forms of treatment. Monitoring should preferably be carried out in childhood, however, during adulthood, we can achieve the same significant results.
Some of the existing treatment options are extraction, that is, the extraction of teeth that have had inadequate growth. With this type of treatment, the midline deviation is adjusted with the help of orthodontic devices, aligning the upper and lower axes.
There are also have less invasive options, such as slices, which are small enamel abrasions that provide corrective effects with the same quality as surgery. However, for these cases, we recommend when the deviation is small, below 2.3 mm.
We can see that, despite being an aesthetic problem, there are several ways to treat midline deviation. It is essential that this is done with a professional who specializes in the subject. The greatest possible care will guarantee the patient the exact change to the perfect smile and prevent the emergence of illnesses such as headaches.