Crooked Bottom Teeth: Causes and Treatment Options in Dubai

Why are only my bottom teeth crooked?

The lower front teeth sit in the narrowest part of the mouth. Four small incisors and two canines share a short curve of bone, and the upper front teeth close over them like a lid. If the lower arch has even slightly less room than the teeth need, the incisors overlap, rotate or one is pushed forwards or backwards out of line.

Several things make the lower teeth crowd more than the upper ones:

• Space and tooth size. Some people simply have lower incisors that are wide for their arch.
• Late changes in adulthood. The lower arch tends to become slightly shorter and narrower with age, and the lower jaw can keep growing a little into the twenties. Both squeeze the incisors.
• Relapse after braces. Lower front teeth are the ones most likely to move back once retainers are stopped. It is a common reason adults come back for treatment.
• Lip, tongue and bite pressure. A tight lower lip, a deep bite or upper teeth that close behind the lower ones can push the incisors inwards.
• Gum disease or missing teeth. Teeth that have lost bone support, or have a gap nearby, drift more easily.

Wisdom teeth are often blamed, but systematic reviews have not shown that they cause lower front teeth to crowd, and removing them to prevent crowding is not justified on that basis. Our guide to teeth shifting in adults covers movement elsewhere in the mouth.

Are veneers on crooked bottom teeth a good idea?

Usually not as the first step. Lower incisors are the thinnest teeth in the mouth, and making overlapping teeth look straight with veneers often means removing a lot of enamel from the teeth that stick out. The result can look bulky, and it does nothing for the cleaning problem underneath. Moving the teeth first and then improving worn edges with bonding or, occasionally, veneers is the more conservative order.

Veneers on lower teeth do have a place, for example after alignment, for worn or discoloured lower teeth, or as part of a full smile design. Our page on lower teeth veneers explains when they are considered, and our guide on crooked teeth compares the options for the upper teeth.

Fixed or removable retainer for bottom teeth?

Both work when used as instructed. A bonded wire stays in place without relying on you, which is why it is common for the lower front teeth, but it needs careful cleaning and can debond. A removable clear retainer is easier to clean around but only works when worn. Research comparing them, including a Cochrane review, has not shown one approach to be clearly better for everyone, so the choice depends on your teeth, gums and habits. Our comparison of fixed vs removable retainers explains the trade-offs, and our retainers page covers how they are made and replaced.