In some parts of the world, people consider a snaggletooth cute or attractive. But not everyone is thrilled to have one tooth that sticks out. These teeth might be protruding, overlapping, twisted, or receded—but no matter the cause, there are ways to treat it. The best treatment for you depends on your specific snaggletooth, and even though they’re all an investment, some can actually be pretty affordable. In this article, we outline four of the most common options.

What is Snaggletooth?

Snaggletooth itself isn’t actually a type of misalignment, like crowding or spacing. Rather, it’s a term that describes a single crooked tooth, although that tooth can be protruding, rotated, recessed, overlapping, or otherwise misaligned. So the rest of your teeth might be straight, but that one troublesome tooth is doing its own thing.

The condition has a few different causes, and one of the most common is dental crowding. When teeth come in too close together, they can push one forward, backward, or cause it to rotate. Other causes can include thumb-sucking as a child, losing baby teeth early, teeth that are too big, and pushing the tongue against the backs of the teeth.

4 Affordable Treatments for a Snaggletooth

A snaggletooth might be the only thing you can focus on when you look in the mirror, but take comfort in the fact that there are a few different ways to fix it. And as a bonus, some of them might not break the bank.

Clear Aligners

One of the biggest advantages of clear aligners like Linea is right in their name: They’re clear, and that means they’re much less noticeable than braces. You’ll use a series of customized plastic trays to move your teeth just a little bit at a time, correcting snaggletooth and other misalignments. They can easily treat most cases of snaggletooth. However, they sometimes have trouble adjusting heavily rotated teeth, so if your snaggletooth is really twisted, another option might be better.

Clear aligners often range from $1,500 up to $8,000, depending on the brand and the severity of your condition. Fortunately, brands like Linea offer convenient payment plans to help make the cost more manageable.

Traditional Braces

You’re probably already familiar with the classic metal brackets and wires. Braces can correct pretty much any misalignment you throw at them, including a range of snaggletooth cases. The problem is that they’re pretty visible, and they can be uncomfortable when you’re trying to eat. That said, they’re the most tried-and-true orthodontic treatment for a reason—they’re powerful and versatile.

Metal braces can cost around the same price as Invisalign, but they can also be a lot more (up to $9,000 in some places). They could end up being a lot more than other clear aligner brands, like Linea. Especially if you get specialty braces like clear braces or lingual (behind the teeth) braces, which often cost a lot more.

Veneers

For mild cases of snaggletooth where the tooth is only slightly crooked, veneers might be an option. These are thin, tooth-shaped shells made of porcelain or dental resin that the dentist can affix to your teeth, giving them a straighter or whiter appearance. Veneers usually only take a single visit to affix, so you can leave the dentist’s office with a brand new smile. However, they aren’t permanent, so you’ll have to replace them every 10–20 years.

Veneers often cost somewhere between $500 and $2,500 per tooth, depending on the type you get.

Tooth Contouring

Tooth contouring involves shaving down a tooth’s enamel to give it a more uniform shape with its neighbors. It only works for certain mild cases of snaggletooth, but like veneers, it’s an in-office procedure and relatively quick. The average cost of tooth contouring is around $50–$500 per tooth, so it’s cheaper than other options. However, it doesn’t address the underlying cause of your snaggletooth, and once you remove enamel from a tooth, it doesn’t come back.

How long does it take to fix a snaggletooth?

It depends on the severity of the misalignment and the treatment you choose. For a mild snaggletooth that veneers or tooth contouring can fix, it might just take a couple of hours. But these are cosmetic treatments, so they don’t correct any underlying misalignments. Orthodontic treatment for moderate or severe cases will take slightly longer, but it will address the root cause.

For example, clear aligners can take anywhere from four to 18 months and braces can take 6–24 months, depending on the complexity of your misalignment. When you visit your dentist or orthodontist, they should give you treatment recommendations and estimates on how long they might take.

How to choose a snaggletooth treatment

With a few solid options, how can you find out which one is best for you? The only way to know for sure is to visit the dentist or orthodontist. First off, they’ll make sure your teeth are healthy, since cavities, gingivitis, and other issues might interfere with treatment.

The dentist will examine your snaggletooth, determine the cause, and provide some advice on the viable treatment options. Some people might have multiple options, while others might only have one. It depends on the specific snaggletooth and doctor. When deciding between treatments, here are some questions to ask:

• Do I want a cosmetic or orthodontic treatment?
• What’s my budget?
• How will each option work with my lifestyle?
• What other misalignments (if any) do I have?
• What’s my ideal timeline?

These questions should give you a good baseline on which treatment might fit your condition and circumstances. And if you’re having trouble choosing, ask your dentist for help. They can talk you through it so you’re prepared to make a thoughtful and informed decision.