The famous gap tooth

To some, a gap tooth can be an embarrassment to deal with, but a thing of beauty for others. However, there are some cultures that consider a gap tooth to be lucky. If you are seriously troubled with the gap tooth, then you can have it rectified. A gap tooth might be a problem, as it usually occurs between the upper front teeth. Dealing with a gap tooth need not be a grave concern for you.{{more}}

Diastema, as the gap tooth is called in medical terms, is the space or gap that is between two teeth.

In fact, a gap tooth can be really quite cute and captivating. There are cultures such as in Nigeria that a woman with gap tooth is considered to be more beautiful and in France it is considered to bring luck.

The gap tooth could be due to several reasons such as:

1. The jaw bones

2. The size of the teeth or

3. Even overcrowding of your teeth

The size of the teeth and the jaw bone are the major factors involved. If the size of the teeth is small when compared to the jaw bone, then you will have spaces and if the teeth are larger than the jaw bone then it will result in overcrowding.

Dealing with Gap Tooth

It is easy, as it is luckily not a health hazard. Hence, if its appearance is not a problem to you, then you need not do anything about it.

All that you need to do in that case is to brush and floss stringently, so that no hidden food particles remain stuck there and attract bacteria.

There are several ways to deal with gap tooth. Let us look at a few of them:

1. Diagnose

The gap tooth can be treated if it is diagnosed earlier on. Hence, if you notice it, get yourself to a dentist promptly.

2. Cosmetic Procedure

1) Braces

Once it has been diagnosed by the dentist you will have to undergo a cosmetic procedure to align the teeth by straightening them out. This is usually done by the means of braces which are used to close the gap between the two teeth. The main drawback to this method is that it is time consuming.

2) Retainers

Once you are done with the braces and your teeth have been aligned, you must continue to wear retainers so that the teeth do not slide back into their original positions.

3) Tooth Bonding

This is a quicker procedure than braces and the bonding material used will be the same colour of your teeth so that the gap will not be visible at all. Bonding provides a minimally invasive solution to closing the gap.

4) Cosmetic Veneers

Cosmetic Veneers are routinely used to fix teeth with gaps between them.

5) Invisalign Braces

These are also used as it is a kind of a clear plastic tray which will be fixed over your teeth to move them in line.

6) Partial Denture

This is a false tooth that is mounted on a plate and sits in your mouth to fill the gap. The main drawback to dentures is that they can come loose, which can be embarrassing, as well as making chewing tough foods and eating more difficult.

3. Even overcrowding of your teeth

The size of the teeth and the jaw bone are the major factors involved. If the size of the teeth is small when compared to the jaw bone, then you will have spaces and if the teeth are larger than the jaw bone then it will result in overcrowding.

Dealing with Gap Tooth

It is easy, as it is luckily not a health hazard. Hence, if its appearance is not a problem to you, then you need not do anything about it.

All that you need to do in that case is to brush and floss stringently, so that no hidden food particles remain stuck there and attract bacteria.

There are several ways to deal with gap tooth. Let us look at a few of them:

1. Diagnose

The gap tooth can be treated if it is diagnosed earlier on. Hence, if you notice it, get yourself to a dentist promptly.

2. Cosmetic Procedure

1) Braces

Once it has been diagnosed by the dentist you will have to undergo a cosmetic procedure to align the teeth by straightening them out. This is usually done by the means of braces which are used to close the gap between the two teeth. The main drawback to this method is that it is time consuming.

2) Retainers

Once you are done with the braces and your teeth have been aligned, you must continue to wear retainers so that the teeth do not slide back into their original positions.

3) Tooth Bonding

This is a quicker procedure than braces and the bonding material used will be the same colour of your teeth so that the gap will not be visible at all. Bonding provides a minimally invasive solution to closing the gap.

4) Cosmetic Veneers

Cosmetic Veneers are routinely used to fix teeth with gaps between them.

5) Invisalign Braces

These are also used as it is a kind of a clear plastic tray which will be fixed over your teeth to move them in line.

6) Partial Denture

This is a false tooth that is mounted on a plate and sits in your mouth to fill the gap. The main drawback to dentures is that they can come loose, which can be embarrassing, as well as making chewing tough foods and eating more difficult.

Dr Keith John

Email:drkeithjohn@gmail.com

Clinic: SVG Dental Corporation

Telephone: 784-456-2220

Cell: 784-526-0752