Gaps Between Teeth

Many people experience gaps between two or more teeth in their mouth.  This can be caused by a number of reasons.  One reason is that your teeth may be spread too far apart in your mouth, causing many gaps.  Another reason could be that one or several teeth are slightly crooked, causing them to not match up with surrounding teeth and instead allowing gaps to form.  Fortunately, there are several different methods that you can use to cover up unsightly gaps and perfect your smile.

One of the most widely used ways to minimize gaps in teeth is through traditional braces.  Braces can help to tighten teeth and bring them closer together or back into line, thus eliminating gaps.  Braces can take several years to full solve dental issues, however, and so for more minor gaps, they may not be the best solution.

Invisalign can be a great solution for minor gaps.  Invisalign uses see-through retainer-like devises to gently change the way in which teeth are positioned in your mouth.  This can take from several months to several years, and is most effective on minor problems instead of issues that involve your entire mouth.  Invisalign is generally more expensive than traditional braces.

Accelerated orthodontics, or orthodontics that includes both the use of devices as well as minor dental surgery, can also be useful in minimizing gaps in your mouth.  Through a series of procedures and a series of devices, teeth can be realigned faster than can be accomplished through braces, eliminating your gaps before they can become even more embarrassing.

For smaller gaps caused by teeth that are misshapen or slightly twisted, bonding or veneers can be a good solution.  Because it is unlikely that these smaller gaps could be solved with braces or surgical realignment, bonding and veneers can be used to change the overall contours of a tooth or several teeth and help it to match its neighboring teeth in a more uniform fashion.  For veneers, the offending tooth will be shaven down in order to provide a surface that can be covered with porcelain that is specifically shaped to match surrounding teeth.  Bonding works in a similar manner but uses a resin-based substance to help contour your teeth to the overall look of your mouth.