Does the gap in your teeth concern you?
Relax, you aren’t alone! Over 25.4% of American citizens have gaps in teeth. They are different for everyone as some may have small and virtually unnoticeable gaps while others may have bigger gaps in their oral setup.
This blog will look at the following:
- Why fix your gap teeth?
- Leading causes of teeth spacing.
- Quick facts on gaps in teeth.
- Are braces the only solution to fix teeth gaps?
In the following sections, let’s understand more about tooth gaps and how to remodel your smile discreetly.
Introduction:
Gaps in teeth are natural and can form anywhere along your smile. However, they’re the most noticeable if they crop up between your front teeth.
A gap in teeth can become a challenge as it gleams every time you talk, smile, or eat. More importantly, that space allows fluids to pass out of your mouth at inappropriate times.
Why Fix Your Gap Teeth?
No matter whether it is unusual or beautiful, teeth gaps are considered a sign of luck in many cultures. Similarly, many people opt for fixing tooth gaps to remodel their smile. Gaps are mostly closed because they are attention-grabbing.
Sadly, however, that’s not all! You should fix your teeth gap at the earliest:
- Decay: The space between gapped teeth in the gums can provide a breeding ground for germs and food particles, causing gum discomfort. If left untreated, this might lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
- Speech Disorders: Tongues touch against teeth to help us speak. When the muscles touch dead air, such as the area between gapped teeth, harsh consonants and other sounds are muffled.
- Chewing Disorders: Chewing disorders are another immediate reason to fix tooth gaps. Gaps in the teeth often indicate that your teeth don’t meet correctly, impacting your bite force.
- Weakened Enamel: Misalignment can cause gaps in your teeth, resulting in an incorrect bite. If teeth are not aligned properly, malocclusion (teeth misalignment) can lead to enamel loss and tooth abrasion. Enamel deterioration and split teeth can raise your chances of dental injury, decay, and tooth loss.
So, now that we know why you should fix gap teeth at the earliest, let’s look at some leading causes behind the phenomenon in the next section.
Leading Causes Of Teeth Spacing
-
Mismatch Between Your Jaw Bones & Teeth
A mismatch between the size of your teeth and jaw bones can be a leading reason behind teeth spacing. If your jawbone and teeth fail to complement each other, you often experience teeth gaps.
-
Undersized Teeth
The size of your teeth is another factor that causes a gap in your oral setup. Undersized or missing teeth can cause neighboring teeth to move and focus on closing a gap. This movement could result in further new gaps between teeth.
-
Oversized Labial Fenum
An enlarged labial frenum (the tissue that runs from the inside of your top lip to your gums) can cause a gap. It can occasionally become massive and pass between the two front teeth, obstructing the normal closing of the gap between these teeth.
-
Improper Swallowing Reflex
Spaces might form due to an incorrect swallowing response. When swallowing, your tongue should press against the roof of your mouth. However, some people push their tongue forward against their front teeth. This pressure causes teeth to shift, resulting in an Invisalign gap teeth between the front teeth.
-
Existing Gum Disease
Gum disease weakens and recedes your jawbone. Because the jawbone supports your teeth, bone loss can cause them to become loose and shift.
Even if your tooth gaps may not be visible, it is critical to get it evaluated by a dentist. We suggest this because it may cause a more serious problem, such as gum disease, when not treated.
What’s more? Gap filling of teeth is also necessary to indicate an incorrect bite, resulting in fractured or chipped teeth.
Are Braces The Only Solution To Fix Teeth Gaps?
Gone are the days when uncomfortable braces were your only option for filling gaps in teeth. Thanks to the evolution of modern dentistry, we now have several cosmetic dentistry procedures to remodel our smile and save us from severe oral diseases.
However, when thinking about how to fix teeth gaps, most of us forget that it depends on the gap’s size and the desired result from a functional or aesthetic point of view.
Keeping the same in mind, let’s check out some common cosmetic dentistry options to remodel your smile.
4 Common Cosmetic Dentistry Options To Remodel Your Smile
Invisible Aligners
Aligners are a great option for closing the tooth gap. These dental appliances are more aesthetically pleasing than braces and correct minor tooth problems. They are clear thermoplastic polymers put on the teeth to exert pressure on certain teeth, causing them to move in the desired direction.
They are available in trays that shift the teeth in small increments. You can deliver them to your house and utilize them as your dentist directs. They are also less expensive than braces.
Veneers
Next, we have veneers, another cosmetic option generally used for aesthetic objectives. Dentists also use it to repair gaps between teeth. They function similarly to fake nails. They are fake shells bonded to the front of the teeth.
Many patients choose veneers as an alternative because they provide a permanent solution that solves all of their cosmetic problems, including fixing gaps in their teeth. Additionally, patients can achieve results considerably shorter than standard orthodontic therapy.
Crowns
Dentists put dental crowns over your teeth to protect or repair a broken tooth or to give the tooth a new look and form. Dentists do not often use dental crowns only for cosmetic purposes, but if the tooth requires a crown anyhow, it may be beneficial to cover a gap.
Crowns are a great option for minor gaps, helping you with even-looking teeth and reducing the appearance of the gap. Crowns work as fillers for gaps in teeth and may be put on the teeth on each side of a gap produced by a lost tooth to give strength and structure for restorative surgery such as a bridge.
Implants
If a lost tooth or teeth cause your gap, dental implants may be an option for restoring your bite and smile. A metal screw-like post replaces tooth roots with dental implants, and a convincing fake tooth replaces the lost tooth.
The bone grows around the implants, providing strength and stability. Dental implants are a lengthy and complicated procedure. They are not just used to close gaps between teeth.
Takeaway
- Teeth gaps are natural and can form anywhere along your smile.
- There are several reasons why you should fix your teeth gap at the earliest.
- The market is filled with cosmetic dentistry procedures to remodel our smile and save us from severe oral diseases.
- Next time you think of how to fix spaces in teeth, remember you’re open to multiple options.