Smile Makeover: Closing the Gap in Your Teeth with Diastema Treatments
Gaps in-between teeth are referred to, in medical and dental lingo, as diastema. They are a common concern amongst patients looking to perfect their smiles, though they are often caused by entirely natural things. However normal they are to have, gaps in our teeth can be a cause for concern. Whether youre worried about the aesthetic implications of diastema, or the build-up of bacteria in-between your teeth, we have plenty of solutions available that may help.
Read on for our guide on how to close the gap in your teeth with effective diastema treatments.
What Causes Gaps in Between Teeth?
Whether its part of your genetic charm or the result of other factors like a tooth gone missing or your gums not playing ball these gaps can sometimes throw a spanner in the works of a dazzling smile. Its not just about looks, though; these small spaces can have other knock-on effects. But worry not, many a patient has walked through our doors hoping for a fix, and weve got just the toolkit to help.
- Genetics. Your genes undoubtedly play a role in the way your teeth are spaced out. If your close family members have gaps between their teeth, theres a higher likelihood you will too.
- Missing teeth. If you have any teeth that are missing, your mouth and gums will naturally try to compensate for that space and you may find your teeth move as a result. This can lead to gappier looking areas between teeth as there arent enough teeth to fill the gums. Having any absent teeth replaced quickly can help avoid this issue.
- Bad habits. Early habits such as thumb sucking can contribute to the likelihood that you may develop diastema as you grow older.
- Teeth growing in. Considering the age of the patient is important here, as it is very common for children to experience short-term diastema issues due to the way their adult teeth grow in. As the size of our jawbone and surrounding tissue increases while adult teeth arrive, this can lead to a gappy look. Many children do grow out of this as their back teeth begin to fill out, pushing the front teeth together in a more uniform manner. Its important not to jump into any treatments before careful examination by a reputable dentist.
READ MORE: Why Its Never Too Late to Get Your Teeth Straightened
- Periodontal disease. Gum disease is one of the key concerns behind diastema. As teeth become looser from the gums as the disease progresses, small gaps can appear. If you have periodontal disease, its important to seek treatment for the root cause of the issue rather than just a standalone cosmetic cover-up. Your dentist should be able to advise you on the best treatments available, and the correct order to have them done in.
- Mismatched sizing. The size of our jawbone doesn’t always match up with the size of our teeth. A larger jawbone with smaller-sized teeth can therefore create gaps, whereas the opposite can create overlaps. Seeking cosmetic treatment for your diastema in these cases can help create a more harmonious, natural look.
Benefits of Diastema Treatment
If you are thinking about having gaps in your teeth fixed, there is more to consider than just the aesthetic advantages in doing so.
- Aesthetics. Although this isnt the only benefit to diastema treatment, its one of the reasons most people do seek to have their gappier areas resolved. Gaps in-between the teeth can alter the entire way your smile looks, leading to a gummier appearance that many would rather alter.
- Supporting surrounding teeth. Closing the gaps between your teeth, no matter how small they may seem, can actually work wonders in supporting the surrounding teeth.
- Enhancing your confidence. As with any treatment that can uplift your appearance, diastema treatments frequently give our patients a confidence boost!
- Easier to clean properly. Having the gaps between teeth closed can make it much easier to clean your teeth properly and maintain oral hygiene. Gaps provide ample space for the build up of bacteria and eventually plaque, so having these issues resolved can benefit the overall health of your gums and teeth.
- Eating comfortably. With even the smallest of gaps in-between the teeth, it can be quite common to experience getting food stuck or a persistent build-up of plaque in certain areas. This can leave many patients feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious whilst they eat, constantly checking to see whether their smile looks as it should.
- Correcting speech issues. In some cases, diastema can cause concerns relating to speech as air moves through the gaps between teeth. This can lead to whistling sounds that can impact our confidence, even if others dont seem to notice it.
What Options for Diastema Treatment are There?
The most popular option when it comes to treating diastema is composite bonding. One of the first solutions patients automatically jump to considering is orthodontic treatments, though these arent always necessarily the best route of treatment to go down. This is for a variety of reasons, from the overall cost of treatment to how long orthodontic solutions need to be worn for.
Composite bonding offers a much more efficient solution for gaps in the teeth, as it can be done within just one sitting. Its also more affordable, with options from just £280.00 per tooth.
Composite bonding involves fitting a carefully applied resin to the surface of the affected teeth, which is then professionally sculpted to fill in any unwanted gaps or imperfections. When applied by cosmetic experts, the results are subtle yet highly effective at reducing the appearance and knock-on effects of diastema. The results of composite bonding are also instantaneous, so you can enjoy your gap-free smile as soon as you leave the dental surgery!
Get a Smile Makeover with Ringway Dental
At Ringway Dental, our luxurious dental surgery sits in the heart of Cheadle. Committed to both cosmetic and preventative dentistry, our experienced team are pros when it comes to handling concerns such as diastema. If youre interested in our state-of-the-art treatments, dont hesitate to call us on 0161 437 2029 today.