Ultimate Guide to Closing the Gap in Your Front Teeth
20 Jun 2024
Do you have a gap between the front teeth?
This blog discusses about how you will close or narrow the gap between your front teeth.
What should you know about Midline Diastema?
Diastema is the medical term when there is a gap between two or more teeth. This condition exists in young as well as old and might develop between any of your teeth. A midline diastema is the common type and refers particularly to the gap between your two upper front teeth. You will have to speak with your dentist and know about the best way to close gap in front teeth.
What Causes Diastema?
The gaps may form due to different reasons. Here you will find the main reasons you might have a gap in between the front teeth:
- Your teeth are very small for the jawbone – When a person’s teeth are very small for the jawbone, gaps might develop between them. Genetics are responsible for your teeth size together with the jawbone. It means diastemas can be passed down from one generation to the next.
- You have undersized or missing teeth – When you have smaller or missing teeth, the chances of developing diastema are extremely high. A common cause of this is when the upper lateral incisors, the teeth beside your front two teeth, are very small or are missing. In order to compensate this, a gap might develop between your front two teeth.
- Your labial frenum is extremely large – Your labial frenum is soft tissue which attaches upper lip to the anterior surface of the maxillary gingiva, also called gums. If this part of connecting tissue is very big for your gums, a gap may be created because of it.
- You suffer from gum disease – Gum disease might lead to a complication called tooth migration. This is when there is inflammation in the gums, which then damages the tissue and bones for supporting your teeth. If it is not checked on time, this damage may cause your teeth to get loose and eventually drift apart.
- You are swallowing incorrectly – When people swallow, they seem to push their tongue to their mouth. Regretfully, there are some who have trouble swallowing correctly which leads to tongue pushing against the front teeth. This repeated pressure can cause your teeth to be pushed forward gradually for the gap to appear.
- Your bad habits – Starting from thumb sucking to grinding teeth and tongue thrusting, these habits will gradually force your teeth out of their natural position, causing diastema.
How can you treat Diastema?
If you want to close the gap in your front teeth due to aesthetic or medical reasons, your dentist or will help to determine the best possible approach.
The treatments for treating midline diastema include:
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Braces
Braces are the common way of treating midline and other kinds of diastemas. They work by applying pressure to your teeth gradually by closing the gap over time. You might find that a complete set of braces will be needed to correct the gap in your teeth. This is possible if you shift any of your teeth, the remaining of your mouth will be affected.
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Surgery
If you have oversized labial frenum that has led to gap in your front teeth, your dentist may suggest a procedure called a frenectomy. It is a dental surgical treatment which removes any excess tissue from the frenulum of your mouth. After this type of surgery, you may need braces or similar treatments to close the gap left by your oversized frenulum.
Gum Disease Treatment
By getting proper treatment for gum disease, you will be able to prevent infections and further complications leading to tooth loss.
The treatments for gum disease include:
- Apply oral or topical antibiotics
- Scaling to get rid of bacteria and plaque from your gums.
- Surgery for the removal of tartar beneath your gums
After the gums get healthy, your dentist will suggest one of the techniques mentioned to correct your diastema.
How Can You Prevent Diastema?
Regretfully, you cannot prevent hereditary types of diastemas such as having too small teeth for your jawbone. There are effective methods for staying away from diastema in less complex cases. These are:
- Daily brushing and flossing.
- Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent the problem of gum disease.
- Knowing proper swallowing reflexes.
- Visit a dentist twice in a year for routine cleanings and examinations.
- Break unhealthy habits like thumb-sucking.
How can you get treatment for Diastema?
Individuals who want to seek treatment for a gap in the front teeth have a positive outlook. Many diastema correcting procedures can close the gap successfully.
If you want to know more about correcting a gap in your teeth, feel free to visit the clinic today and talk to our orthodontist. You need to book a consultation for invisalign treatment at our clinic today and correct your oral problems.
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