Gapped teeth may make anybody lose confidence and feel self-conscious about how they smile which can be quite destructive in the life of a person. Many people have this anxiety that they may not be taken seriously—particularly in a professional setting—and damage their impressions. Aside from its unsightly appearance, the gaps in the teeth or diastema results in an increase in the possibility of developing gum disease, gathering bacteria and building plaque or tartar which may ultimately lead to tooth decay or cavities.
What is Diastema? | What Causes Gaps Between Teeth? | Treatments for Diastema
What is Diastema?
Diastemas are the spaces or gaps between two teeth. They generally arise between two incisor teeth, however they may potentially exist between any two teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that up to 25% adult cases have some level of this trait. Read about missing teeth.
The cause of the additional space is the size mismatch between the jaw bone and the tooth size. If they are too tiny for the jawbone, there will be obvious spaces between two teeth. On the contrary, if they are excessively big, they will get congested. The size of the jawbone typically has a relation to genetics.
The spacing issues might emerge for other reasons also such as:
- Childhood habits such as thumb-sucking might move it forward, producing gaps.
- When one tooth is absent, undersized, or has an uneven shape, this might cause space to accumulate. A dental implant is a viable replacement for a lost tooth in adults or patients who are suffering from tooth loss.
- Spaces arise due to faulty swallowing reflexes. Most people’s instinct when swallowing a part of food is the tongue will push against the roof of the mouth. For others, their swallowing reaction is pushing against the front. This is termed tongue thrust, and over time the pressure will push it forward; thus causing the space to grow.
- Another probable reason is periodontal gum disease. It is a condition that causes bone loss; hence, there will be inadequate bone to support the teeth in the mouth. It may even occasionally result in gum infection. Gingivitis, on the other hand, is a minor type of gum disease whereby there’s swelling in your gingiva. This inflammation results in bone loss. If a patient has lost a lot of bone, it will become loose. The displacement might result in a gap between teeth.
What Causes Gaps Between Teeth?
There are several ways gaps occur between the teeth. One typical way gaps in teeth occur are tongue pushing or thumb sucking which is extremely prevalent in children. Those who force their tongue on the teeth while swallowing could end up having a gap in the teeth in due time. A child, who takes a pacifier or has the habit to suck their thumb, might be at risk of developing gaps in their teeth, harming their dental health in the long term. If you are lacking infant teeth and compelled to maintain them for as long it is healthy, a gap could result.
If the growth of the labial frenum is between the two incisors, it might become separated and cause a gap. This is best defined as the tiny flap which links the top lip to the gums. However, the labial frenum must be sufficiently massive to generate appropriate room. If the gum tissue travels below its typical position and between the central teeth, it will aid with the prevention of closing gaps. If the teeth are too tiny for space, the teeth could spread out and contribute to the creation of a gap. Gap teeth may be caused by different factors including your dental habits.
Treatments for Gapped Teeth
During the initial consultation, Dr. George DDS will enumerate and explain the a variety of techniques in order to close a gap tooth as well as evaluate which treatment option best fit your dental demands. That’s why you don’t have to worry because at Highland Oak Dental, the following makeover for teeth gap are available:
Invisalign
They are custom-fit to your smile, making it an effective procedure for diastema closure with invisalign clear aligners. Besides eliminating teeth gaps, these aligners offer a number of additional benefits. They may fix numerous dental problems like as bite complications, crooked teeth, open-bite malocclusion, and other alignment issues. Your orthodontist utilizes these aligner trays to progressively move the teeth together after a number of sessions. Invisalign is an orthodontics solution whereby a set of invisible teeth braces are interchanged every two weeks. The entire interchanging process continues until your teeth are perfectly aligned. A retainer will thereafter be used to preserve your new teeth alignment. Another unobtrusive choice is ceramic braces for gap teeth.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that cover your natural tooth. This shell can flawlessly mask faults. Veneers for gap teeth are among the famous and successful cosmetic dentistry treatment options for this sort of problem.
Tooth Bonding
Tooth bonding for gaps will take less than an hour to finish. Your dentist will pick a composite color that closely matches your natural teeth color and will take considerable care in shaping the resin material; thereby, closing the tooth gap. The front tooth filling or gap filling will make your teeth look entirely fresh.
Dental Crowns
Crowns or tooth caps may be used to cover the whole tooth and seal the teeth gaps. Fixing gap teeth with a crown will not only enhance the appearance and quality of your teeth but you won’t have to worry about it slipping off as it’s permanently attached.
Frenectomy
Sometimes the tissues linking the upper lip to the gums (labial frenum) is large and extends between the front teeth. This might cause frenum issues or gaps between teeth. If this is the case, your doctor will perform a frenectomy. The goal of this treatment is to minimize the large labial frenum. Then orthodontic treatment is required to conceal the space.
Learn more how the advancement in dental technology has made it possible to fix Crossbite and Underbite in teeth completely.
Schedule an appointment and visit us now to obtain a diagnosis and get more information about the alternative methods to close the tooth gaps such as metal braces brackets, lingual braces for diastema, and the rest of the gap in teeth treatment braces! In addition, you can give us a call if you want to know the treatment cost in the dental practice, insurance providers we accept, payment options, how to get to our office location, have any issue, questions, or concerns, or if you want to learn about the other procedures we provide like dental bridge, dentures, implants surgery, and dental cleanings. Our team of dentists and pleasant staff are looking forward to meeting you and restore back your self-esteem! Once your treatment is done, you’ll undoubtedly depart our office in content.