Snaggle Tooth: What It Is, Why It Happens and How to Fix It

Snaggle tooth is an everyday name, not a dental term. It describes a tooth that grows out of the line of the others: pushed forward, tucked behind, rotated or overlapping. It is most often seen in the upper canines (eye teeth) and the upper lateral incisors beside the front teeth.

Dentists call this tooth crowding or malposition, a form of crooked teeth. It is common, and for many people it is part of how their smile looks rather than a health problem.

The commonest reason is lack of space. If the jaw is small compared with the size of the teeth, the last teeth to come through, often the canines, have nowhere to go and take whatever position is free. Other causes include a milk tooth that stayed in too long, an early loss of a milk tooth that let neighbours drift, an extra tooth in the arch, and thumb sucking. Family patterns of jaw and tooth size are a strong factor.

Sometimes a canine is blocked completely and stays under the gum. If an adult tooth seems missing or late, an X-ray can show whether it is an impacted tooth.

A mildly out-of-line tooth that you can clean well does not have to be treated. Overlapping teeth are harder to brush and floss, though, so they can collect plaque and make gum problems and decay more likely. Treat that as a reason to consider correcting it.

The main options are braces or clear aligners to move the tooth into line. When there is very little space, an orthodontist may widen the arch or, in some cases, remove a tooth to create room. For a small overlap on a front tooth, some people choose cosmetic reshaping or veneers, but these change the tooth without correcting the position, so ask your dentist what suits your bite. An assessment at an orthodontist visit will show which approach fits.