What is midline deviation? Treatment of tooth midline disharmony

Last update: 05-05-1404 Confirming doctor: Dr. Alireza Khadivi Author: Fateme Nasir Mehr

Medline deviation is usually seen in people that their upper and lower jaws are not exactly on top of each other. In order to treat this problem, first of all, the exact cause must be determined. Because sometimes this deviation is not just a simple dental problem and can be related to the jaw bone or even oral habits.

If you feel like your teeth aren't perfectly aligned when you smile, or your upper and lower teeth don't line up when you close your jaw, stay tuned for everything you need to know about this anomaly. From the causes of deviation to its diagnosis and treatment methods.

List of titles Show What is a dental midline? Diagnosis of tooth midline deviation Types of tooth midline deviation Complications of not treating Medline deviation Reasons for deviation in the midline of the teeth Bite problems (dental abnormalities) Tooth loss Abnormal size of teeth Crowded teeth Jaw disharmony Bad oral habits Medline deviation treatment methods Orthodontics with metal braces Treatment of midline deviation with Invisalign (transparent orthodontics) Medline treatment with composite Use of palatal expander tooth extraction Related content

What is the midline of a tooth?

The dental midline is an imaginary vertical line that divides your face into two halves. This line should come from the middle of the forehead, between the eyes, on the nose and up to the chin and pass exactly between the upper and lower front teeth. When there is no problem, the upper and lower teeth and jaws are perfectly aligned with this line and your smile looks symmetrical.

Sometimes, this midline is not aligned with the teeth, which is called midline deviation or midline misalignment. The severity of this deviation can be mild and only a specialist can detect it, or it can be so obvious that you can notice it yourself when you look in the mirror. In any case, if this problem is not treated, it may cause you problems.

Diagnosis of tooth midline deviation

Orthodontist By carefully examining your teeth and jaw, he can tell if the midline of your teeth has shifted. This usually starts with a simple examination, but sometimes more detailed tools such as photography are needed. In the following, we examine the methods of detecting midline deviation of the tooth:

The orthodontist looks at your face from the front angle to see if the middle line of the teeth is aligned with the center of the face.
X-ray photos and 3D images are taken so that the specialist can examine the condition of the teeth and jaw more carefully.
Sometimes the specialist draws an imaginary line on the photo of the face or visually to see exactly where the upper and lower front teeth are.
The specialist examines how the upper and lower teeth fit together when your mouth is closed.

Types of tooth midline deviation

Midline deviation can show itself in different ways and depending on where the problem comes from, its type is different. This problem is sometimes related to the structure of the face, sometimes to the upper or lower jaw, and sometimes to the teeth themselves. In the following, we explain the types of this deviation:

Pink midline: This type of deviation is related to the middle line of the entire face, which starts from between the eyebrows and continues to the nose and chin. In normal faces, the nose or chin may deviate slightly from this line, but if the entire midline of the face is clearly crooked, it is usually a complex problem and may require surgery.
Dental midline of the upper jaw: This deviation occurs when the midline of the maxillary teeth is not aligned with the midline of the face. This problem can be due to the shifting of the teeth or due to the skeletal disharmony of the upper jaw.
Dental midline of the lower jaw: in this case, the midline of the lower jaw teeth is not aligned with the upper jaw or the whole face. This problem is mostly related to the skeletal disharmony of the lower jaw, especially in those who have had a history of trauma to the lower jaw. Sometimes the displacement of teeth may cause this type of deviation.

Consequences of not treating Medline deviation

You might think that midline deviation only affects the appearance of your smile; But if left untreated, it can cause more serious problems. In mild cases, it may only affect the beauty of your smile and make you feel that your smile is not attractive enough. But when the deviation is more severe, it can put extra pressure on the teeth and jaw and cause problems such as abnormal teeth wear or even jaw joint pain. In addition, misalignment of the midline of the teeth can affect the way you chew food and even cause chronic headaches or digestive problems because food is not chewed properly.

On the other hand, when your smile is not symmetrical, your self-confidence may decrease. Therefore, it is better to take this problem seriously and see an orthodontic specialist for treatment.

Reasons of deviation in the middle line of teeth

Medline deviation can occur for various reasons, from genetic issues to everyday habits that you may not even think about. The orthodontist can find the main reason with a detailed examination and suggest the best treatment based on it. Now let's take a look at the common reasons for this problem.

Bite problems (dental abnormalities)

If the upper and lower teeth do not line up correctly when the mouth is closed (such as a crossbite), the midline may shift. This problem causes the teeth to be pulled to one side and the midline to move away from the center of the face.

Tooth loss

If you lose a tooth for any reason (such as genetics, premature extraction of baby teeth, or trauma), other teeth may shift and cause a midline deviation.

Abnormal size of teeth

Teeth that are too big or too small can cause the other teeth to not be in their right place and the midline is out of the normal position.

Teeth congestion

When there is not enough space for the teeth to line up, the teeth are pushed together and this can cause a midline shift.

Jaw disharmony

If the upper and lower jaws do not line up correctly or are misaligned due to abnormal growth or trauma, the midline of the teeth will also shift.

Bad oral habits

Habits such as long-term finger sucking in childhood or excessive use of pacifiers can affect the development of teeth and jaws and cause midline deviation.

Medline deviation treatment methods

Fortunately, midline deviation is treatable and there are several ways to correct it depending on the severity of the problem and your condition. From traditional orthodontics to more modern methods such as Invisalign, an orthodontist can choose the best way for you. Next, we explain the treatment methods.

Orthodontics with metal braces

Metal braces are one of the oldest and most effective methods for treating midline deviation. These braces gradually guide the teeth to their correct place with controlled pressure. dental orthodontics is great for moderate to severe deviations.

Treatment of midline deviation with Invisalign (transparent orthodontics)

Invisalign or clear orthodontics, uses clear and removable plastic aligners. This method is very suitable for those who do not want metal braces to be seen. Of course, if you use transparent orthodontics, you should wear the aligners at least 22 hours a day to get results.

Medline treatment with composite

For mild deviations, composite can also be used for treatment. In midline treatment with composite, the specialist changes the shape of the teeth with composite materials so that the midline looks symmetrical, without the need to move the teeth too much.

Use of palatal expander

The palatal expander, which is also called a palate expander, is used to correct jaw disharmony, and by increasing the width of the upper jaw, it helps to align the teeth better. This method is very effective especially for children whose jaws are still growing.

Tooth pulling

In rare cases where severe crowding of teeth or jaw misalignment causes midline deviation, it may be necessary to extract one or more teeth. This method is usually used when no other way works.

Deviation of the midline of the teeth is a problem that, if diagnosed and treated in time, can be easily resolved and give you a beautiful and healthy smile. If you also have a problem with the deviation of the midline of the jaw, you can book your free orthodontic consultation with Dr. Khedevi right now.

Dr. Alireza Khadevi, with more than 16 years of experience in treating all kinds of jaw abnormalities and dental disorders, is considered one of the best orthodontic specialists in Tehran. When booking an appointment, you can choose any of Dr. Khedevi's 3 specialized clinics in Pars, Mirdamad, or Nawab areas of Tehran.

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