How to Get Rid of Gaps in Teeth

Gaps in the teeth can be an embarrassing struggle for many people and can cause oral hygiene difficulties. Not only this, they can cause debris to get stuck between the teeth and in some cases minor speech issues. Depending on the severity of the gaps between your teeth, there are many remedies that your dental provider can offer to give you a smile you are proud to flash. Consider some of these options as a way to get rid of those gaps for good! We can help you decide which option is the best for your teeth.

Bonding: If you have small gaps that you’d like to repair, bonding is a great option. It is a resin material that is the same color as your teeth and is placed between two teeth where a gap is present. It best bonds to natural teeth when it is cured with a special light designed for the procedure. It isn’t the strongest option, so it is best used in areas that don’t have a lot of stress on them.

Braces: For severe gaps, combined with misaligned bites and teeth, braces can help close the space between two teeth by moving them close together over time. This works best with teeth that are strong and healthy, because it involves the adjustment of existing teeth, rather than replacement or non-organic materials added onto the teeth. There are different types of dental brace solutions depending on your particular needs. While it can take a period of time for the teeth to gradually adjust and the gap to close, it can be a long term solution to a space between your teeth. This is typically used when there are issues in spacing and alignment throughout the mouth.

Clear Aligners: Working similarly as traditional braces, clear aligners are a mold that fits over your teeth slowly moving them into place. The aligners are changed out periodically, each time adjusting the mold to help guide teeth to the proper places. This also results in a long term fix to tooth spacing issues, as well as any misalignments. Because they are clear, they aren’t as noticeable as traditional braces.

Crowns: Large gaps can be repaired with the help of crowns, which is essentially a form of a tooth that is fitted over an existing tooth, filling any spaces. This is best achieved by applying a crown to the teeth on both sides of the gap which eliminates the space in the middle. They are then bonded together, closing the gap. This helps especially in situations where the existing tooth has imperfections or discoloration.

Veneers: Similar in concept to crowns, veneers are made of porcelain or composite material that is bonded to the front and sides of the tooth. For closing a gap, the veneer is applied to each tooth surrounding the gap, closing in the space between them. This solution helps provide uniform color and shape to your teeth, and is especially popular with people who have discolorations.