How to fix diastema?

Diastema is an extremely common condition in which people have a gap between two of their front teeth. The most common place for diastema is between the two front, top teeth. While it’s not possible for everyone to have a perfect, straight, white smile, there are several effective treatments for diastema. A diastema commonly develops when people’s jaws are disproportionately larger than their teeth, or when there are teeth missing. Diastema may also occur in people whose lip tissue is too large or too tense, causing it to pull on the gums and move the teeth, or because of thumb sucking. Sometimes, when a person’s adult, or permanent, teeth come in, the gaps that had existed between teeth might close naturally. If you’re an adult with a widening diastema, talk to your dentist, as this may be a sign of bone loss or gum disease, or possibly a sign of a swallowing disorder. Your dentist will first determine the cause of your diastema, possibly with referrals to an orthodontist, cosmetic dentist, or other specialist. Regardless of the cause, there is a solution.

Orthodontic solutions, such as braces or invisalign, are common solutions. Braces can fix all sorts of problems with the teeth, including spaces in between them. To fix a diastema, you’ll wear braces for anywhere from 6 months to a year or two, depending on the location and complexity of the cause of the space or spaces. Braces function mechanically, using pressure to pull the teeth into their ideal location. A retainer, usually worn only part of the time, or only during the healing process, can help hold the teeth in place once the braces are removed, preventing the diastema from reappearing. If you have a smaller, narrower diastema, your dental care provider may determine that an Invisalign treatment will work best for you. Invisalign treatment is similar to braces, in that it uses pressure to mechanically reposition the teeth. However, Invisalign uses a series of removable trays to adjust the position of the teeth, and these trays are designed to be barely visible when worn. This allows you some amount of freedom and cosmetic benefit, though it is still imperative to wear the corrective Invisalign trays for the prescribed amount of time, or else they will not be as effective and the diastema may not be fully repaired. As with braces, your orthodontist will fit you with a retainer to wear after your Invisalign treatment has ended.

While orthodontic treatments are the most common way to correct a diastema, they are not the only solutions that exist. Some mechanical solutions, like teeth gap bands, are thought to be ineffective and may cause more problems than they solve. However, there are effective cosmetic and restorative dental solutions, in addition to effective orthodontic treatments. If your diastema is caused by missing teeth, or if the gap in your teeth is as wide as a tooth, the best solution for you is likely to be dental implants. Dental implants are very small titanium cylinders that are implanted, in a minor surgical procedure, into the jawbone. They are placed in the spots where teeth are missing. The surrounding bone bonds with the metal post, creating a substantial and solid substitute for the missing tooth root, and offering the added benefit of strengthening the jaw itself. After the implant is placed and the bone and titanium have healed together, the dental health practitioner will attach anchors to the tops of the implants; then, porcelain crowns are affixed to the anchors, artificially replacing the missing teeth with attractive, realistic false teeth. Other people with diastema elect a dental bonding procedure, which is an affordable and effective way to narrow gaps and also to fix damaged teeth. While bonding was initially used as a treatment for damaged or cracked teeth, it has grown increasingly common to use bonding techniques to widen the teeth on either side of a gap, thereby narrowing the gap. This is best used as a solution for relatively narrower instances of diastema. Dental veneers are also a common solution for cosmetic flaws in the teeth. Veneers function similarly to bonding in that they build up the width of the teeth themselves, narrowing the gap and straightening and perfecting the smile. Dental crowns may also be used to “cap” teeth, widening them and subsequently narrowing adjacent gaps. Talk to your dentist if you want to learn more about one of these cosmetic solutions to diastema. In any case, talking to your dentist is the first step in treating a diastema. Your dentist can discuss your options with you and help you find a treatment solution that works for your specific needs. While most diastema are genetic and cannot be prevented, in some cases, they may be preventable. Routine checkups can help determine if you are developing or worsening a diastema, and routine oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing, can help support bone density and keep the teeth strong. Your dentist can also help determine if your diastema is affected by incorrect swallowing behaviors and can refer you to a specialist who can work with you to develop proper swallowing habits. No matter the cause, there is treatment for your gap-toothed smile, so talk to your dentist to learn more about your options.

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