In today’s world, where social media plays a major role in shaping beauty standards, navigating the pressures of appearance can be challenging. A tooth gap, while often harmless in terms of oral health, can sometimes lead to feelings of self-consciousness for those who have it.
If you’re one of many who feel insecure about a tooth gap, this article will explore some of the most effective and speedy solutions to help you achieve the smile you desire.
What is a tooth gap
A tooth gap, or a diastema, in most cases, is a dental condition where there is a natural gap between any two neighboring teeth. What most people visualize when hearing about a tooth gap, is the tooth gap that most occurs between the upper front teeth. But it can happen anywhere in the mouth and on multiple sites as well.
For the most part, diastema is not exactly a dental condition that necessarily requires dental treatment. But in some cases, it can affect speech and chewing, in which case you should seek dental treatment.
While it is most commonly known as a natural occurrence, you can develop a tooth gap later on in life. Here you can consider your tooth gap to be a medical condition. This is especially true following tooth loss. This is why many dentists advise you to seek tooth restoration as your teeth around the tooth loss will begin to migrate closer together with time.
What Causes a Tooth Gap
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Tooth loss
Tooth loss especially if you lose the root with it as welll, whether due to an accident or cavities, causes tooth gaps in other areas around the mouth.
This phenomenon is natural and is in simple words your teeth trying to “close” the new gap formed after tooth loss. This migration happens very gradually and eventually creates gaps between the other teeth.
To avoid getting a tooth gap, you should seek tooth loss restoration treatments such as dental implants.
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Genetics
A tooth gap between the two front upper teeth is usually natural and not a medical condition. There could be no underlying causes or explanation for the gap, it is simply how the natural alignment of your teeth is formed.
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Childhood habits
Many early childhood habits can cause diastema between the teeth. Such habits include children sucking on their thumbs can interfere with the alignment of your teeth leading to a tooth gap.
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Large frenulum
A frenulum is a small tissue that connects your lips to your gums. Some people can have an enlarged frenulum which creates a tooth gap between the two front teeth.
Can a tooth gap cause problems?
The side effects of diastema can vary depending on both the location and underlying cause of the condition. Some of the most common complaints from people with a tooth gap include chewing and digestive problems.
While the gaps between your teeth may look harmless, they don’t allow for the correct distribution of bite force to break down food properly. In turn, this will cause digestive problems.
Additionally, gaps between teeth are notorious for causing bad breath. The spaces between the teeth make it easier for bacteria to settle causing bad breath and decay. This can also cause inflammation of the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Lastly, gaps between your teeth can affect your speech as the tongue relies on your teeth to make many of the sounds in the alphabet. A tooth gap may interfere with this process leading to mispronunciation of certain sounds.
The quickest and best solutions for a tooth gap
1- Veneers
Veneers are one of the quickest and simplest fixes for a tooth gap as results are immediate. Veneers are generally a popular quick-fix solution for many dental conditions. These extremely slim shell-like ceramic structures resemble the front of your teeth.
They are entirely customizable which allows the technology to give you a very aesthetically pleasing finish. Especially here at Denetakay where we employ cutting-edge technologies such as the CAD/CAM system to precisely customize your veneers. In addition, the 3D printing technology at our laboratories allows you to get your smile in just a matter of 3 to 5 days.
The process will include the painless shaving of the teeth with the gaps, customizing your veneers, and finally fitting them.
Read also : Are Veneers Permanent? How Long Can You Expect Them to Last?
2- Braces
Braces may not be the quickest solution for a tooth gap, but they can fix the alignment of your teeth. If you are bothered by the traditional look of braces you can consider lingual braces or the Invisalign.
Lingual braces will go on the back of your teeth and is a technique that many young celebrities have used to fix many types of alignment issues. They will not be visible to others while you smile or speak, so for the most part they will be hidden.
The Invisalign on the other hand is a modern technology in orthodontics that uses clear braces. The braces are removable so you can take them out while eating which many patients consider to be convenient.
The downside to treating a tooth gap with braces in general may be the monthly dental visits to fix the fitting of the braces.
3- Bonding
Bonding is another quick and simple fix to a tooth gap. The technique employs resin, which your dentist can color-match to your neighboring teeth for an aesthetic finish. The resin is a clay-like material, and your dentist will place it directly on your teeth as they mold it to a natural dental surface. The final process will include curing the resin with a special light so it bonds to the tooth surface for durable results.
Veneers vs bonding for a tooth gap
Since both options provide immediate results for diastema, they have their different pros and cons. In terms of durability and aesthetic finish, veneers have the upper hand. Opting for veneers for your tooth gap can give you results that last up to 20 years. Whereas bonding has a lifespan of 3 – 7 years. Additionally, unlike ceramic veneers, resin is more prone to chipping and staining.
As for costs, veneers are slightly more costly. However, the costs come at the expense of better aesthetics, better durability, and stain/chipping-resistant qualities.
If the price of veneers is out of your budget where you currently reside, you can always consider medical tourism in Turkey. As a leading dental clinic in Turkey, Dentakay employs some of Turkey’s top dentists working with the most advanced technologies to give you the best treatment possible.
The takeaway
A tooth gap can be a natural occurrence or something that you can acquire later in life. In either case, you can consider veneers, bonding, or braces to fix the alignment of your teeth. These treatments can help with your speech, chewing, and overall oral health.
Contact us
For further questions about teeth gaps as well as the popular treatments for them, you can contact our medical specialists. In a free online consultation, we will address all your concerns. All you have to do is either fill out the following form or contact us via WhatsApp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.