When a orthodontist examines a patient's dentition by studying countless parameters, measurements and functional and aesthetic aspects, in order to plan a treatment that offers the patient an adequate occlusion and a harmonious and pleasant smile at the end of the treatment.
One of these is the relationship between the 'dental midline' (where the upper central incisors or 'palettes' meet) and the 'facial midline' (which would divide our face into two symmetrical parts), which are sometimes offset from each other.
This, which is relatively common, goes unnoticed in most cases, as small deviations are hardly noticeable to the people around us, but it becomes conspicuous in cases where the deviation is more than 3 mm apart.
Why does this deviation occur?
The fact that the dental and facial midlines do not coincide can be caused by a number of factors, which must be determined by the orthodontist clinically responsible for the case:
- Deviation of part of the structures of the face, especially affecting those of the nose or lips, although relatively infrequent
- Dental deviation, in turn due to various causes:
- Class 2 or 3 dental malocclusion
- Anterior crowding
- Difference in tooth size on either side
- Agenesis (missing teeth) on either side
- Other reasons
How can the dental midline be centred?
The centring of the dental midline with the facial midline will be achieved, depending on the origin, by means of prosthodontic, orthodontic or surgical interventions, which must be assessed for each individual case.
One of the simplest and most conservative formulas, valid in a large number of cases, is the correction of dental malposition by means of orthodontic treatment, which can be carried out using conventional techniques, or with the use of techniques such as Invisalign which, as well as offering predictable results, allow the patient to 'see' from day one how the dental correction takes place.
Therefore, if you have a deviation of your dental midline and you want to correct it, you should consult a dentist expert in the Invisalign technique who, after taking the appropriate records, will advise you on the needs of your case... you are sure to notice a major difference and a significant improvement in your quality of life at the end of the treatment.