Are you wondering about the options for filling in tooth gaps?
Do you dislike the gap between your teeth? Did you lose a tooth due to trauma or an accident, or is it the way your teeth naturally came in?
Several factors cause gaps between the teeth, including a misaligned dental arch and thumb-sucking as a child. Whatever the reason for their tooth gap, most people don’t like it and want their dentist to close it.
Fortunately, at No Gaps Dental, we provide several solutions such as dental crowns and many more which do just that – close the gap to give you the beautiful smile you deserve.
So, pull up a seat and we’ll explore those options further.
Filling in tooth gaps – the options
Many different treatments close spaces between the teeth. Several factors determine the best treatment method, including the size of the gap and the desired outcome both from a cosmetic and functional aspect. Treatments for closing gaps between teeth include braces, composite or porcelain veneers, and dental crowns.
Our friendly, experienced dentists will be happy to explain each process in more detail to help you make an informed choice. But for now, let’s take a brief look at some of the treatments we’ve mentioned.
Braces
If you have a large gap between your teeth, orthodontic braces are one of the best solutions. Braces are also the way to go if other problems exist, including crossbite or other bite issues and misaligned teeth.
Braces will deliver the desired outcome if a person is otherwise happy with the colour and shape of their teeth. However, if that’s not the case, the dentist may recommend further cosmetic treatments such as porcelain veneers. Naturally, this will involve additional costs.
The downside of braces for filling in tooth gaps is that it requires time and patience. Metal braces can take up to 2 years to achieve the desired results. However, clear aligners can often work their magic in as little as six months for smaller gaps between the teeth. Aligners are also a discreet orthodontic treatment since they are barely visible when worn over the teeth.
Composite veneers
If the space between the teeth is relatively small, say 1-3mm, and you dislike the teeth colour and shape, composite veneers produce excellent results since they cover the entire tooth surface.
Composite veneers are less expensive than porcelain veneers and require minimal tooth preparation, if any. The downside of composite veneers is that they are placed directly onto the tooth by the dentist, and their skill determines results. Composite veneers last for around seven years before they need replacing.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are suitable for closing slightly bigger gaps between the teeth. Because porcelain has similar translucent properties to tooth enamel, reflecting the light to make teeth sparkle, they can look more natural than composite veneers.
So, let’s talk about the last method for filling in tooth gaps – dental crowns.
How dental crowns can fill in spaces between the teeth?
One of the most popular reasons for getting dental crowns is to close excess spaces between teeth, such as a diastema, a large gap between the two upper front teeth.
Having gaps between the teeth can lower a person’s self-esteem. Our friendly, caring dentists can restore your smile with tooth crowns helping raise your spirits and enabling you to smile with confidence.
What are dental crowns?
Tooth crowns are hollow prosthetic restorations custom-made to restore a tooth to its correct size and shape. They are also a permanent restoration that can last for up to 15 years with care before replacement. It’s this fact that makes many people choose this type of dental restoration.
When in place, tooth crowns sit just above the gum line and encompass the portion of the gapped tooth. Not only do dental crowns address spacing issues, but they are custom made to fit over individual teeth. Because they are colour-matched to the surrounding teeth, they provide a seamless finish. Tooth crowns can also restore teeth that have lost much of their structure and prevent cracked teeth from worsening.
Benefits of dental crowns
When our dentists fill gaps in the teeth with tooth crowns, they also restore the bite and chewing functionality. Any space between the teeth can cause bite issues because the teeth are misaligned.
When teeth are correctly aligned, patients notice that not only is it easier to bite and chew their food but swallowing and digestion is smoother too.
Since dental crowns are custom-made, there are several materials to choose from. These include all-porcelain, zirconia, porcelain fused to metal, and gold. Another advantage of dental crowns is that they are tailored to your natural gum line and surrounding teeth, so unless a person asks if you have had dental work carried out, no one will be any the wiser.
The process of filling in tooth gaps
Dentists refer to gaps or spaces between the teeth as a diastema. The concept of using a tooth crown to close a gap is to frame the space by fitting a dental crown.
However, one thing to be aware of is that before undergoing the procedure for dental crowns, your gums and surrounding teeth need to be free from disease or infection. If there are any signs of hardened tartar or gum disease, these periodontal issues need to be addressed by your dentist before fitting any tooth crowns.
Are you ready to close your tooth gaps and create a beautiful smile?
Ignoring tooth gaps can cause tooth migration and issues such as TMJ disorder. By filling in tooth gaps, a person is essentially restoring their mouth’s correct structure. Whether your spacing issues are small or large, tooth crowns are a step in the right direction.
If you’re suffering from a gapped smile, then contact the dental team at a No Gaps dental clinic on (02) 8806 0227. We provide CEREC same-day crowns as well as traditional crowns.