Why Are My Teeth Shifting as I Get Older?

Why do teeth shift as you get older?

There is rarely one explanation that applies to everyone. Tooth position is influenced by the dental arches, neighboring teeth, opposing teeth, the bite, periodontal support, and dental work that may have changed over the years.

That is why two people who both say, "My teeth are shifting," may actually have very different things happening.

Why are my bottom teeth becoming crowded?

Lower front teeth are one of the most common places adults notice a change. A tooth that once looked straight may begin rotating. The incisors may overlap slightly. The smooth line across the front of the arch may simply look less even than it did years ago.

Long-term studies of untreated teeth show that lower incisor alignment can change as people age. The dimensions of the dental arch can change as well. In other words, late crowding does not necessarily mean that something suddenly pushed the teeth out of place.

This is also why wisdom teeth should not automatically get the blame. Lower front tooth crowding is multifactorial. The presence of wisdom teeth alone does not provide a simple explanation for why the front teeth have become crowded.

What matters clinically is the amount of crowding, whether it is still progressing, the available space, the bite, previous orthodontic treatment, and the health of the tissues supporting the teeth.

Why are my teeth shifting if I already had braces?

This can be particularly frustrating. You went through orthodontic treatment, your teeth were straight, and perhaps they stayed that way for years. Then one day you notice that they are beginning to move again.

Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into new positions, but finishing treatment does not make those positions permanently self-maintaining. Retainers are an important part of preserving the result.

If a retainer is lost, broken, no longer fits, or has not been worn for a long time, some movement may occur. Long-term changes can also occur in the dentition as adults age, which is one reason retention remains important well after active orthodontic treatment ends.

1. Your old retainer no longer fits. Do not force a retainer over teeth that have substantially changed position. Have the amount of movement evaluated first.
2. You stopped wearing your retainer years ago. Relapse can occur gradually enough that the change is not obvious until one or more teeth begin looking noticeably crowded.
3. You have noticed movement despite long-term retention. Retention helps maintain orthodontic results, but the mouth itself continues to change over time.

When the teeth and supporting tissues are healthy, clear aligners may be one option for correcting orthodontic relapse. The appropriate treatment depends on which teeth moved and the type of movement needed.

You can learn more about adult clear aligner treatment on our Invisalign page.

Can a missing tooth cause other teeth to shift?

Tooth loss can change the relationships around the open space. Depending on which tooth is missing and the surrounding conditions, neighboring teeth may tip or drift, while a tooth in the opposite arch can move when it no longer has the same opposing contact.

This is one reason a missing tooth is considered in the context of the entire bite rather than simply as an empty space that needs to be filled.

If you have both a missing tooth and teeth that need orthodontic movement, treatment sequence becomes especially important. In some cases, the teeth need to be moved into their intended positions before the final size and location of the restorative space can be determined.

Our dental implants page explains options for replacing missing teeth. If you already have an implant and are considering orthodontics, read Can You Get Invisalign With Crowns, Veneers, or Dental Implants? for more about how existing restorations affect orthodontic planning.

When shifting teeth deserve a closer look

Not every change in tooth position is simply an orthodontic issue. Periodontal disease can compromise the tissues and bone supporting the teeth, and tooth migration can occur when that support changes.

That does not mean a slightly rotated lower incisor should automatically make you worry about gum disease. It does mean that the pattern and speed of the movement matter.

Movement deserves a broader dental evaluation when it is accompanied by loose teeth, rapidly developing spaces, bleeding or swollen gums, gum recession, or a noticeable change in the way the teeth come together.

1. A tooth feels loose. Mobility is different from simply noticing that a tooth looks slightly more rotated than it used to.
2. A new space is appearing quickly. Rapid or progressive spacing deserves evaluation rather than being assumed to be a normal part of aging.
3. Your gums have changed too. Bleeding, swelling, recession, or other periodontal changes make the health of the supporting tissues especially important.
4. Your bite suddenly feels different. A noticeable change in how the teeth meet can provide another clue that more than simple crowding may be occurring.

The purpose of evaluating these changes is not to make ordinary tooth movement sound alarming. It is to make sure we are treating the cause of the movement rather than only correcting what is visible.

What does "my teeth are shifting" actually mean?

Patients use the phrase to describe several different changes. Separating those changes is useful because not all of them point toward the same treatment.

Once we know which type of change is occurring, it becomes much easier to determine whether the next conversation is primarily about orthodontics or whether another dental issue should be addressed first.

What should you do if your teeth are shifting?

Straightening the visible tooth is not necessarily the first step. The first step is determining what changed, whether the movement is still progressing, and whether the teeth and supporting tissues are healthy.

From there, treatment becomes much more individualized.

Orthodontic treatment at our practice is provided by Dr. Edward Viloria. Depending on what has changed, treatment may involve Invisalign, braces, retention, or addressing another dental condition before orthodontic movement begins.

Can Invisalign straighten teeth that have shifted with age?

Invisalign may be an option for adults whose teeth have shifted, but age by itself does not determine whether clear aligners are appropriate. The movements required and the health of the teeth and surrounding tissues matter more.

Someone with mild lower front tooth crowding after previous orthodontic treatment may need a relatively focused correction. A patient with significant bite changes, missing teeth, periodontal concerns, or extensive restorative dentistry may need a more coordinated plan.

Clear aligners can accomplish many orthodontic movements, but different movements have different levels of predictability. That is why treatment is planned around the entire bite rather than simply creating a digital simulation in which one crooked tooth looks straight.

The tooth you notice may be only one part of the change. The treatment plan still has to make sense for the whole mouth.