Improving the gap: The most common methods

Surely any of us have ever looked at our smile in front of the mirror. There are many people who feel that their wide teeth make their smile more attractive and distinctive. But some are not satisfied with such a smile and find a way to fix it. Currently, there are many different methods to improve the gap. It is important to choose the right method that is right for each person to bring about the most appropriate smile.

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• 1. What is called a wide tooth?
• 2. Causes of sparse teeth
• 3. How to improve the gap?
• 4. How can I improve my teeth naturally?
• 5. Clefts in children's teeth are normal?
• 6. What to do if the gap remains after orthodontic treatment?
• 7. Does the use of toothpicks, floss, interstitial brushes cause teeth to become sparse?

1. What is called a wide tooth?

The simple definition of a gaping tooth is when there is a gap between two teeth, the teeth are not in lateral contact with each other. Sparse teeth are common and most noticeable are in the two upper middle incisors. However, spaced teeth can be found in other locations on the dental arch. The distance between the teeth also varies to varying degrees. In some cases, large distances are more obvious. Rare cases are difficult to detect.

As reported in the Journal of the American Dental Association, between 1.6% and 25.4% of people have gaping teeth. That's a pretty big number too.

Sparse teeth in the milk teeth are normal. Because at this stage the jaw is still developing and the teeth will change continuously. As children get older, baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. Any gaps are usually closed spontaneously. If the gap persists, you should see your dentist for further advice.

People with wide teeth need to strengthen their oral hygiene, especially in the interdental areas. You can use dental floss , an interstitial brush or, preferably, a water flosser . They make it easier for you to clean the spaces between your teeth.

2. Causes of sparse teeth

There are many different causes of missing teeth. However, the main cause is often due to asymmetry between tooth size and jawbone. If your jawbone is too large or your teeth are too small, the teeth may not be aligned correctly. Therefore, it creates a lot of space between the teeth in the arch.

Gaps between the anterior teeth can be caused by an overgrowth of gum tissue between the teeth, also called gingival overgrowth . In addition, in some cases, the position of the lower lip brake near the neck of the tooth causes traction, which also leads to the clefts.

Usually, the gap between the teeth in children will close on its own. However, in some children, the gap exists because of bad habits such as:

• Thumb sucking.

• Tongue push.

• Poor oral hygiene causes inflammation and development of gums.

A few bad habits of children will create gaps in their teeth

Thumb sucking often causes a gap in the front teeth because this is where the finger puts pressure. Tongue thrust can cause mandibular gaping because the tongue moves forward, pressing on the lower teeth when swallowing. All these habits need to be fixed at an early age to avoid problems later on.

If you have periodontitis , you are at risk of tooth loss. Periodontitis leads to bone loss around the teeth. It causes the teeth to move and creates space between the teeth.

In some people, an abnormality in the shape of the lateral incisors also contributes to the gap between the central and lateral incisors. They are called rice grain incisors or wedge-shaped incisors. These teeth are usually quite small and pointed than normal. As a result, they do not make enough contact with adjacent teeth and fill the space left for normal teeth.

In some cases of long-term tooth loss , the adjacent teeth move or tilt into the missing tooth space. This causes the space left by tooth loss to narrow, creating a gap between the teeth. This position often causes cramming of food.

3. How to improve the gap?

Currently, there are many different methods of improving teeth such as:

• Teeth filling .
• Prosthetics: Veneers, crowns, bridges.
• Orthodontic.
• Implants.

It's not difficult to fix missing teeth at all. However, each person will have a different clinical case. Most importantly, it is necessary to evaluate and select the appropriate option to overcome this problem. This requires an examination and consultation with a dentist to help you make the best decision.

3.1. Improve teeth with braces 

Braces are a method that can help you correct the position of your teeth and close gaps in your mouth. Large gaps often require orthodontic treatment. Meanwhile, with smaller gaps, we will have simpler methods.

Is it possible to improve the gap with braces?

With children

You will need to wait until all of your permanent teeth have come in for braces to close the gap. That's because babies' jawbones develop at a different rate than their teeth. A mixed set of teeth creates a natural gap between the teeth. Therefore, when the teeth have fully erupted, if the gap problem still exists, then you should consult your dentist about braces for your baby.

There are many different methods of braces: Traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces… If you don't like braces with brackets, you can use the orthodontic method with transparent trays.

Orthodontics with clear trays is usually applied in cases with mild and moderate deviations. This method is often referred to as invisible braces. Its advantage is that it is very difficult for others to detect that you are orthodontic when wearing these aligners. It is completely transparent, easy to put on, easy to remove for cleaning. The biggest advantage is high aesthetics. However, the cost of this treatment is quite high compared to the usual one. Therefore, if you really love it, learn more about it.

>> You can see more: What is the risk that you may encounter with braces?

As mentioned above, braces are not the only method to improve gaps. We can apply other methods, which are fillings and restorations. These are the best ways to close 1 or 2 openings. However, if your teeth are too far apart, braces are still the optimal method.

3.2. Porcelain Restoration

Small gaps can be repaired with fillings or restorations. Depending on the extent of the gap and the condition of your teeth, your dentist will give you a choice: porcelain veneers, crowns or bridges.

Porcelain veneers

This is currently the most popular method loved by many people. Porcelain veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that fits snugly against the outer surface of natural teeth. It mainly helps to change the original tooth color and shape. Porcelain veneers are often used in cases of small openings and are only suitable for adults.

When making porcelain veneers to improve gaps, dentists often make the shape larger than the original teeth. The purpose is for 2 teeth to come into contact with each other, covering the gap.

Porcelain paste is also an option

Performing porcelain veneers usually requires 2-3 appointments. At first, usually prepare teeth and measure, take impressions to make veneers. The information is then sent to the technical labs for implementation.

For openings that are too large, using porcelain veneers will make the teeth look too large and not suitable for the face. If the dentist is skillful, your teeth will look a little more natural. However, you should consult with your dentist before doing so for better results.

Crowns

In case the tooth adjacent to the cleft has a large loss of substance or is too small in shape, the use of porcelain veneers cannot be done. You can use crown wrapping to restore tooth tissue and reshape it to a more suitable shape to help fill in gaps.

Dental bridge

In the case of large gaps due to tooth loss, you can think about restoring the lost tooth with a bridge. However, this is by no means the most optimal method.

3.3. Fillings

Improving the gap can use tooth-colored filling materials such as composite glued directly to the interstitial surface. The dentist's job is very important. Dentists must choose colors and techniques to create the most natural shape. Usually limited to covering small gaps between teeth.

Before and after pictures of teeth filling

Composites are also used to cover the entire surface of natural teeth. This is called plastic glue. This is also a popular way to restore broken, large chipped teeth.

3.4. Implants

Implant is a way to restore lost teeth by inserting a titanium tooth root into the jawbone instead. The upper body is restored with porcelain and bonded to the titanium root in the bone.

In cases where the gap is wide enough to restore a single tooth, an implant is an optimal method. The effectiveness and time of using implants lasts several decades. However, the cost of this method is quite high. The treatment also requires a dental implant specialist to perform.

>> There are many methods of making dentures to restore missing teeth. Learn the methods in the article Dentures to restore missing teeth: Types, pros and cons.

The implant method

3.5. Maintenance Instrument

Maintainers are commonly used in orthopedic treatment. But it only helps to adjust to a small extent. As a result, the desired results may not be obtained. Usually, you have to have fixed orthodontic treatment that closes the gap first. After that, a removable appliance will be used to help maintain the new position of the tooth, avoiding the recurrence of the gap.

4. How can I improve my teeth naturally?

This depends on how "natural" one's perspective is. Orthodontics, restorations or fillings are all methods that are not considered completely natural. However, they are all safe, effective, and give you the most natural look possible.

Currently, there is a trend to use rubber bands around the teeth and pull them together. However, a report by the American Association of Orthodontists in 2017, said: This method can be dangerous and hurt more teeth when trying to close the gap.

Your dentist will help you with questions about the appearance of your teeth if you have concerns.

5. Clefts in children's teeth are normal?

With that said, gaps in your baby's baby teeth are completely normal. During the growth period, the growth rate of the jawbone is greater than the change of teeth. On the other hand, there is a size difference between baby teeth and permanent teeth. Therefore, during the mixed dentition stage, these gaps will be seen.

If there are still gaps after your baby's jaw stops growing and all the teeth have come out, you can consult your dentist to choose the best method.

6. What to do if the gap remains after orthodontic treatment?

Braces help to align teeth in the correct position for a more beautiful smile. If you are not satisfied with the results of your treatment, you can contact your orthodontist for further instructions. You must ensure that you always strictly adhere to the wearing of retainer after orthodontic. This is very important. If you don't have the right maintenance treatment, the cleft will recur.

Don't forget to bring your appliances after orthodontics

7. Does the use of toothpicks, floss, interstitial brushes cause teeth to become sparse?

There is no evidence or reason that interstitial cleaning can cause tooth decay. You may have injured your gums, causing them to recede. From there, the gaps that are inherently the location of the gums appear.

You need to visit your dentist to check the condition of your teeth and gums and change the cleaning method accordingly. Once the cause is eliminated, the gums will heal and fill the gap. When the gums are damaged irreversibly, the dentist will recommend tissue grafting methods. Tissue grafting helps to restore and regenerate the lost gums.

Sparse teeth are not a disease that needs treatment. However, what you need to be concerned about is the cause of this condition. There may be accompanying consequences of the cause of the gap. So you need to see your dentist for an accurate assessment. The improvement of the gap is completely simple and can be done. Do not be too concerned about the problem of gaping teeth in children because it will fix itself when grown up.

Doctor Truong My Linh