Alignment issues impact the patient’s appearance and may not affect the overall health during the initial stages. Therefore, several individuals often remain unsure about the course of action. Thankfully, besides traditional braces, multiple convenient and comfortable cosmetic dentistry options can help conceal a gap between teeth.
What are the primary reasons for the formation of a gap between teeth?
Disproportionate jawbone, irregular swallowing reflex, poor oral hygiene, oversized labial frenum, or missing teeth can result in a formation of a gap between teeth. The condition is also referred to as diastema and can be caused due to hereditary reasons as well.
Treatment options to fix a gap in front teeth
Depending on the patient’s overall oral health and needs, the dentist can recommend dental bonding, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, dental implants, Invisalign, or traditional braces-based procedure to fix the gap between teeth. If necessary, the dental surgeon may suggest the patient undergo a frenectomy.
Do retainers close gaps?
Most retainers are made up of molded plastic and a couple of wires. These devices are designed to fit on the teeth and retain their position after completing orthodontic treatment. They cannot move the teeth in a straight position or close the gap between teeth.
Dental implants for closing a gap between teeth
As a part of the implant procedure, a metal post or screw is implanted in the jawbone. Once the jawbone and gum are healed, an artificial tooth structure is placed on the screw or post. Dentists recommend dental implants to patients who have lost their teeth. Space between teeth can be an open invitation to harmful bacteria. Thus, implants are considered as the best and permanent solution to close the gap between teeth.
Do braces fix gaps?
A gap between teeth is one of the most reported orthodontic concerns in the United States. Braces are considered as the best way to close spaces in complicated cases. Braces consist of metal wire, elastic chain, and other components that pull the teeth together to close the gap. Patients can opt for lingual, gold, metal braces, or Invisalign as a part of treatment to help get an attractive smile back in six months. The traditional orthodontic treatment with braces for gap teeth can be useful for mild as well as severe alignment cases.
If necessary, the dental surgeon may suggest the patient undergo a frenectomy. It is a small surgical procedure performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) to remove parts of the labial frenum. It is performed as a part of orthodontic treatment and is recommended if braces fail to close the abnormal gap.
Invisalign
Invisalign or clear aligner trays are designed with 3-D images of the patient’s teeth. They push the teeth together to close gaps and help improve the alignment of the bite. Invisalign-based treatment offers the same result as traditional braces, but without the use of metal. Patients can see the difference in nine-months if they wear trays for 20 to 22 hours daily. The option is ideal for closing a minor gap between teeth.
Dental bonding process for closing a small gap between teeth
Dental bonding can be perfect for closing small gaps between front teeth and solving aesthetic issues. As a part of the process, the dentist prepares the teeth surface and applies bonding material. Then, the tooth-colored composite resin material is applied. Professionals carefully sculpt the material to cover the gap between the front teeth. Ultraviolet (UV) light is used for hardening the resin. As the last step, the bonding material covered tooth is polished to ensure it does not irritate lips.
Dental bonding is not recommended for patients with a misaligned bite, crooked or crowded teeth. It cannot be a substitute for any orthodontic procedure recommended to fix a gap between teeth.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are tooth-shaped wafer-thin shells. They are considered as the best cosmetic dentistry option to conceal stains and close a small gap between teeth to improve the smile in just a single visit. Veneers-based treatment can turn flawed looking teeth into evenly spaced, perfectly shaped ones.
Porcelain crowns
Dentists choose tooth-shaped porcelain crowns in cases that involve missing or small teeth resulting in a gap between teeth. Porcelain restorations are custom-made to ensure they fit perfectly and close gaps.
Are you worried about a gap between two front teeth? No worries, you are not alone; ADA’s data has highlighted that between 1.6 to 25.4 percent of individuals from various age groups in the US suffer from the same.
Depending on the desired aesthetics and size of the gap, your dentist will recommend the best treatment option. Remember, along with aesthetics, dentists also make sure the patient gets maximum comfort and precise bite after completing the procedure. If you are looking for a patient-friendly dental office in Roswell GA with a reputation for providing the best treatment, you should schedule an appointment at TruCare Dentistry. The dental clinic follows all CDC and OSHA guidelines to ensure patient and staff safety during the coronavirus pandemic.