Gaps in your teeth present various issues, from social anxiety to oral hygiene problems and bone resorption. It may come as a surprise that Australian adults are missing 4.5 teeth each, on average. Luckily, there are plenty of high-quality solutions for filling missing tooth gaps, ranging from dental crowns to dental implants.
If you’re missing a tooth, talk to your dentist in New South Wales about the options available to you for restoring your smile.
How To Fill Gaps In Teeth?
When it comes to filling gaps in your teeth, there are several solutions you can consider. These include:
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Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a fantastic option for filling in missing tooth gaps. A dental crown is a permanent false tooth that is cemented to the natural tooth structure for support. The material your dental crown is made from directly impacts its longevity.
Traditionally there are three dental crown materials; porcelain, gold, or porcelain-fused-to-metal. Porcelain crowns are a popular choice, especially for teeth near the front of your mouth, which are most visible when you smile because porcelain closely resembles your natural teeth in colour and texture.
Gold crowns are a stable choice that provides a great fit. In general, the more gold or precious metal content in a dental crown, the better it fits and works with your gums, reducing the chance of bacterial infiltration.
Porcelain crowns fused to a metal structure can be used anywhere in your mouth because they look aesthetically pleasing and provide the secure fit of a precious metal crown. Your dentist can recommend the ideal dental crown option for you, depending on which tooth needs replacing.
At No Gaps Dental, several of our locations offer CEREC crowns made from a solid block of ceramic and milled on-site so that you can have your dental crowns placed the same day. The milling time for crown creation is roughly 20-30 minutes. Rather than traditional (and often messy) impressions, your dentist takes digital scans of your mouth that provide more accurate dimensions, so your dental crown is a perfect fit. CEREC crowns have a proven 95.5% success rate.
While the lifespan of a regular dental crown ranges between 7-15 years, CEREC dental crowns have been proven to have an 84% success rate up to 18 years after their placement. Like porcelain, CEREC crowns can accurately match your natural tooth colour.
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Dental Implants
Dental implants are an excellent choice for maintaining your jaw strength and overall oral health when you’re missing teeth. The implant consists of three parts: an implant rod (usually titanium or zirconia), an abutment, and a dental crown.
The implant rod fuses with your jaw bone in a process called osseointegration, acting as an artificial tooth root and providing stimulation for your jaw bone to prevent bone resorption. With a dental implant, you can have a fully functioning tooth that looks natural, thanks to the advanced technology of dental crowns.
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Veneers
Veneers are similar to a dental crown but not as permanent. This solution for how to fill a gap in teeth involves applying a tooth-coloured shell to the front of the tooth for purely cosmetic purposes. Having veneers placed is faster and simpler than dental crowns and can correct minor gaps between teeth, correct discoloured teeth, or improve the appearance of misaligned teeth. At No Gaps Dental, we also offer CEREC veneers, so you don’t need to schedule multiple appointments and wait for lab fabrication of the veneers.
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Orthodontic Treatment
Depending on the reason for your tooth gap, your dentist might talk to you about the possibility of orthodontic treatment such as braces to close gaps. It’s common for tooth gaps to occur in young adults because of malocclusion or misalignment of the teeth. If crooked teeth are the reason for your visible gaps, ask your dentist about what orthodontic treatment options could work to straighten your smile.
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Dentures
Dentures are a less permanent solution to missing teeth than dental crowns or dental implants, but many people still consider them because they’re more affordable. Unlike dental implants, a denture is a removable false tooth that you remove at the end of the day and clean separately from your other teeth. While the cost is lower, dentures are less stable than crowns and dental implants, making it challenging to chew foods normally. They also do not provide the same stimulation to your jawbone, so a denture doesn’t prevent jawbone resorption.
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Dental Bonding
Tooth bonding may not be as helpful if you’re missing a tooth, but if you want to fill a gap caused by two misshapen teeth, it’s a great solution. Dental bonding uses tooth coloured composite resin to fill gaps between teeth by increasing your tooth size or altering its shape.
The Right Option for You
If you’re searching for how to fill a gap in your teeth most effectively, it’s time to talk to your dentist. Everyone’s situation is different, and the ideal way to fill your dental gaps depends on their cause. If your dental gaps result from crooked teeth, the dentist may recommend orthodontic treatment or veneers to close small gaps between teeth in an aesthetically pleasing way.
If your gap results from tooth loss, you may want to consider getting a dental crown or dental implant to boost your confidence, restore your smile, and support your jawbone and surrounding teeth.
Fill the Gap at No Gaps Dental
Those wondering how to fill a gap in teeth look no further than the experienced team at No Gaps Dental. Our comprehensive services range from dental crowns to veneers, dental bridges and dental implants. Whether you’re missing one tooth or several, our team is prepared to help you restore your smile. Contact us today at (02) 8806 0227 to book a consultation with the dentist.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.