5 Effective Ways to Close Gaps Between Teeth

Studies show that a winning smile can lead to all sorts of benefits, from mood elevation and pain reduction to stronger immune system function and greater social success. However, you may hesitate to leverage those benefits if a gap between your teeth makes smiling too embarrassing to contemplate.

Fortunately, modern dentistry offers several techniques that can close gaps between teeth and give you the smile you always wanted. Take a look at five potential strategies for making unwanted dental gaps disappear.

1. Bonding

If you have only a slightly wider space than usual between two teeth, you may need nothing more than cosmetic resin bonding to mend the gap. Your dentist will first rough the tooth surfaces to help the bonding material adhere to them. Once the sculpted material has assumed the proper shape, an ultraviolet light hardens it.

Although bonding provides a quick and relatively affordable way of fixing gapped teeth, with the results lasting for up to ten years. However, the composite resin can stain fairly easily due to its porous nature. If you habitually drink coffee or enjoy other stain-leaving substances, your dentist may recommend veneers as an alternative.

2. Veneers

Veneers usually cost more than composite resin bonding, but they also have certain advantages over that technique. A porcelain veneer covers the entire front surface of the tooth uniformly, rather than simply patching or augmenting one part of it. It can also fix large gaps between teeth that bonding can't address.

Your dentist will remove a small amount of each treated tooth's outer enamel layer to make way for the veneer, while also roughening the texture of the enamel to ensure a stronger bond to the porcelain. Cement then glues the veneer into place. A high-quality veneer, along with routine dental home care, can last for up to 15 years before you need to replace it.

Veneers resist stains better than bonding material. However, if you let your surrounding teeth get stained, your veneers may appear unnaturally white by contrast. Proper homecare and routine dental visits help to reduce this from happening.

3. Crowns

Permanent crowns offer a more comprehensive and permanent solution to gapped teeth than either bonding or veneers can provide. This restoration covers the entire body of the tooth above the gum line, not just the front surface. Crowns also have the strength and durability to protect weakened or broken teeth from further damage.

You may need a pair of crowns to reduce and center the gap between two teeth evenly. Your dentist will remove enamel from all the visible tooth surfaces, shaping the remaining enamel to accommodate the space needed for the crowns. You may need to wear temporary crowns until the dental lab finishes making the permanent ones.

4. Orthodontic Appliances

Teeth that grow in with improper alignment may leave you with gaps in your smile as well as bite problems that may cause discomfort or premature tooth wear. In these cases, orthodontic appliances can correct the position of your teeth without altering the tooth enamel. These appliances can also correct your bite and improve dental function.

Adults and children alike can benefit from orthodontic appliances. While some alignment issues may require traditional metal braces, others respond well to removable tooth aligner trays. These trays, made of translucent plastic, appear all but invisible when you wear them, eliminating embarrassment and making dental hygiene easier. With the various do it yourself clear aligners on the market, it's best to have a professionally trained dentist or orthodontist continually monitoring your progress and health of the teeth, gum tissue and underlying bone.

5. Frenectomy

A large gap between the two upper front teeth may stem from an abnormal frenum. This thin cord of tissue extends from the inside of your upper lip to the centerline of your upper gums. An overly large frenum, or one attached too low on the gums, can exert tension that keeps the front teeth apart.

You can correct this problem with an oral surgery procedure called a frenectomy. The dentist simply removes a small part of the frenum, eliminating the unnatural tension between the teeth.

Koehn Dentistry & Aesthetics can help you smile with greater confidence by evaluating your gapped teeth and administering the most sensible correction for your specific needs. Contact our dental office to learn more and schedule a consultation.