Gaps Between Teeth: What Are My Options?

If you have gaps between your teeth, you’re not alone. About 16.6% of men and 10% of women have at least one gap in their teeth. Also called a diastema, a space or gap between two teeth can happen anywhere on your smile.

Our dental practitioners at Brightwork Family Dentistry, located in Richmond, Virginia, are here for all of your general, cosmetic and emergency dental needs. That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide about correcting gaps between your teeth. 

What causes gaps? 

There are a few things that can cause gaps between your teeth. Sometimes the condition is caused by a mismatch between the size of your jaw and the size of your teeth, a problem that occurs at birth. 

Sometimes you develop gaps because your teeth are undersized or because certain teeth are missing. It’s common to have a gap between your upper front two teeth. It is often caused by an oversized labial frenum, the piece of gum that hangs between your front top two teeth.

It’s also possible to develop gaps in your teeth from habits, especially those you had during your early childhood development years. A commonly known culprit is thumb sucking, which tends to pull your top front teeth forward, creating a gap. 

Do I need to fix my gaps?

You may think that the only reasons to fix your gap are cosmetic. However, gaps in your smile can be an indicator of a much larger issue that requires periodontal (gum) or orthodontic treatment, like significant gapping or overcrowding. 

If your gap gets wider, you may also experience other dental issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and jaw problems. You may also experience additional symptoms like discomfort, pain, and tooth loss. 

Treating gaps between your teeth 

When it comes to treating gaps between your teeth, you have a couple of treatment options. What you choose will depend on the state of your smile, your teeth alignment, and the size of your gaps. Treatment options include:

ClearCorrect  

If your gaps aren’t too wide then you may want to opt for ClearCorrect, an orthodontic system that can give you a dramatically straighter and more even smile in as little as six months!

Bonding  

Unlink Clear Correct, bonding is great for people who don’t have alignment issues and who have very small gaps between their teeth. With bonding, we apply a white, tooth-colored filling to your teeth, then harden it. 

Porcelain  

If your gaps are too wide for dental bonding and too far apart to benefit from alignment with Invisalign, then you may want to opt for porcelain veneers. Veneers are permanent teeth coverings that are custom-made to mimic perfect natural teeth. 

Crowns  

Dental crowns are great for large gaps that are accompanied by severely damaged teeth. You’ll want to go for crowns if you have severely eroded, chipped, or discolored teeth. Crowns cover your damaged teeth and restore their shape and size to fill gaps. 

To learn more about your treatment options for filling gaps, and to schedule an appointment at Brightwork Family Dentistry, call today or request an appointment online.