Treatment Options for Gapped Teeth By N. Perry Orchard on December 24, 2015

Dr. Charles A. Robertson and Dr. Nicholas Perry are trusted dentists serving Corpus Christi, offering patients advanced cosmetic dentistry treatments to enhance smiles as well as a host of other procedures that improve dental wellness.

A number of patients who visit our practice experience issues with tooth gaps. We'd like to take a moment to look at the problems that gaps can cause and what options are available for treatment.

The Aesthetics Flaws of Tooth Gaps

If you have gaps between your teeth, they can impact the overall appearance of your smile. Even a small gap can mean major aesthetic problems, particularly if the gap is up front and prominent. A tooth gap can result in serious self-consciousness when laughing, smiling, or speaking, even around friends and loved ones.

The Health Issues Related to Tooth Gaps

In addition to causing a number of aesthetic flaws, tooth gaps can also have an impact on your overall dental wellness. Gaps between teeth and other sorts of spacing issues could mean poor dental alignment, or malocclusion. This malocclusion can contribute to teeth grinding (bruxism), TMJ disorders, and other problems.

Orthodontic Treatments for Tooth Gaps

When you have tooth gaps that are the result of serious dental misalignment, the best option for treatment is orthodontic care. This includes traditional braces or an alternative to braces such as Invisalign®. These treatments help reposition the teeth along the dental arch using precisely applied pressure, improving overall alignment of your teeth.

Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments for Tooth Gaps

When you have small gaps and spaces between teeth that are predominantly aesthetic in nature, the ideal option will involve some form of cosmetic dentistry procedure. For very small gaps between teeth, dental bonding may be a viable option. This involves the painting of a tooth-colored dental resin directly onto a tooth, building out from the tooth itself to fill the gap. For more serious gaps and spacing issues, porcelain veneers may be used. Veneers are specially crated shells that are fixed to the fronts of the teeth to mask all sorts of imperfections.

Restorative Dentistry Treatments for Tooth Gaps

When a patient has a major tooth gap, or has a space between teeth that is the result of tooth loss, restorative dentistry procedures are typically the most ideal option to consider. For serious tooth gaps, a dental crown may be considered. The crown will cap a tooth and improve its look and overall fit in its space. When a tooth is missing, a dental bridge may be used, or perhaps a dental crown supported by a dental implant.

Tailoring Treatment to Meet Your Needs

It's important to us that each patient undergoes customized treatment that is tailored to their needs. By eschewing a one-size-fits-all style to dentistry, we're able to help patients have the healthiest and most attractive smiles possible. During the consultation process, we'll be sure to go overs these matters in greater detail.

Contact Dr. Charles A. Robertson and Dr. Nicholas Perry

If you have gaps between your teeth and would like to learn how these issues can be addressed, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. Dr. Charles A. Robertson and Dr. Nicholas Perry look forward to your visit and helping your smile be its very best.