How to Fix a Gap Between Your Teeth

 

The main methods to fix gaps between your teeth are:

Solution Description
Orthodontic Treatment Braces and clear aligners, like Invisalign, gradually move teeth into proper alignment to close gaps caused by misalignment or malocclusion.
Treatment duration varies from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the gap size and teeth movement.
Dental Restorations Dental bonding or veneers can fill small gaps and enhance your smile’s appearance. These restorations are customised to match your natural teeth in colour and shape.
Dental Implants or Bridges For gaps due to tooth loss, dental implants or bridges are effective solutions. Implants are surgically placed in the jawbone, while bridges are supported by adjacent teeth to fill the missing tooth gap.
Periodontal Therapy If gum disease causes gaps, periodontal therapy such as scaling, root planning, or gum grafting may be recommended to restore gum health and close the gap between teeth.
Surgical Intervention In cases of soft tissue or jawbone abnormalities, surgical procedures like frenectomy might be necessary to correct the issues contributing to interdental gaps.

What are interdental gaps?

Gaps betwe­en nearby tee­th, called interdental spaces or diastemas, happen when the­re is an opening in the same­ row of teeth. These­ spaces sizes and spots differ. Ofte­n, these gaps are se­en betwee­n the two front upper tee­th, but can appear betwee­n other teeth too.

Many factors cause­ interdental gaps, like te­eth that are oddly shaped or size­d, jaw bones growing abnormally, habits like pushing the tongue­ or sucking thumbs, gum disease, or missing tee­th.

Additionally, some genetic traits or de­velopmental conditions contribute to space­s forming between te­eth. Learning why these­ gaps happen is vital for crafting proper treatme­nt plans to and how to fix gap teeth efficiently.

What factors of teeth can influence interdental gaps?

  1. Tooth Size Discrepancies: Differences in the size of teeth can lead to gaps between them. For example, smaller than average teeth may create spaces as neighbouring teeth spread out to fill the available space, while larger teeth can cause crowding and push adjacent teeth apart, resulting in gaps.
  2. Tooth Loss: Gaps between teeth can occur due to missing teeth, whether from congenital absence, dental trauma, severe decay, or extraction. When a tooth is lost, neighbouring teeth may shift position over time, creating spaces between them.
  3. Dental Misalignment: Malocclusion, characterised by improper alignment of the teeth, can result in interdental gaps. Irregularities such as spacing, or protrusion of teeth can create gaps between them, impacting both aesthetics and function.

What factors of bone can influence interdental gaps?

  1. Alveolar Bone Loss: The alveolar bone, which surrounds and supports the roots of teeth, can experience loss or resorption due to various factors such as periodontal disease, trauma, or tooth extraction. When significant bone loss occurs, it can lead to spacing between teeth as they lose their support and shift position within the jaw.
  2. Traumatic Injury: Severe traumatic injuries to the jawbone, such as fractures or dislocations, can disrupt the alignment of teeth and result in gaps between them. These injuries may occur due to accidents, sports injuries, or physical altercations, leading to changes in the position of teeth and subsequent spacing.
  3. Developmental Anomalies: Certain developmental conditions or anomalies affecting the growth and development of the jawbone can contribute to interdental gaps. For example, abnormalities in jaw size or shape, such as a narrow palate or maxillary deficiency, can result in crowding or spacing of teeth, leading to gaps between them.

What factors of soft tissue can influence interdental gaps?

  1. Gingival Recession: Gingival recession occurs when the gums recede or pull away from the teeth, exposing more of the tooth’s surface and potentially leading to gaps between teeth. This recession can result from factors such as periodontal disease, aggressive tooth brushing, or anatomical predispositions.
  2. Soft Tissue Trauma: Traumatic injuries to the soft tissue, such as lacerations or tears in the gums, can disrupt the normal alignment of teeth and contribute to spacing between them. These injuries may occur due to accidents, dental procedures, or habits like biting on hard objects.
  3. Abnormal Frenum Attachment: The frenum is a band of tissue that connects the lips or tongue to the gums. An abnormal attachment of the frenum, either too high or too low on the gums, can exert tension on the teeth and result in spacing or gaps between them.
  4. Soft Tissue Factors: Certain soft tissue lesions or abnormalities, such as fibromas, or inflammatory conditions like periodontitis (gum disease), can affect the gums and contribute to changes in tooth alignment or spacing. These lesions may require surgical intervention or other treatments to address their underlying causes.
  5. Oral Habits: Persistent habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or prolonged use of pacifiers can exert pressure on the soft tissue and teeth, causing them to shift out of alignment and potentially leading to interdental gaps over time.

Are Interdental Gaps Normal?

Interdental gaps can be considered normal or abnormal depending on the circumstances. Some interdental gaps, such as the midline diastema between the two maxillary central incisors, is frequently observed in primary and mixed dentition. It is observed in individuals without underlying dental issues. Any gaps less than 2mm generally close on their own.

These gaps may contribute to the uniqueness of one’s smile and are generally considered normal occurrences. However, interdental gaps can also arise due to underlying dental problems such as tooth loss, periodontal disease, malocclusion, or abnormal tooth eruption patterns.

In such cases, the gaps may be considered abnormal or pathological and may require intervention to address functional and aesthetic concerns. Proper evaluation by a dental professional is essential for determining the cause of interdental gaps and implementing appropriate treatment to achieve optimal oral health and aesthetics.

Types of Interdental Gaps

  1. Midline Diastema: This type of gap occurs between the two maxillary central incisors at the centre of the dental arch. The midline diastema is a natural occurrence in some individuals and may contribute to the overall aesthetic appearance of the smile.
  2. Lateral Diastema: Lateral diastemas refer to gaps between the maxillary lateral incisors and adjacent teeth, such as the central incisors or canines. These gaps can occur naturally or due to dental issues such as tooth size discrepancies or malocclusion.
  3. Generalised Spacing: Generalised spacing involves small gaps present between multiple teeth throughout the dental arch. These gaps may result from factors such as small tooth size relative to jaw size, dental crowding, or abnormal tooth eruption patterns.
  4. Single-Tooth Diastema: Single-tooth diastemas involve spaces present between individual teeth and may occur due to various factors such as tooth loss, dental trauma, or periodontal disease. These gaps can impact both function and aesthetics and often require intervention to restore proper tooth alignment and oral health.
  5. Supernumerary Diastema: Supernumerary diastemas refer to gaps that occur due to the presence of extra teeth, known as supernumerary teeth, in the dental arch. These additional teeth can lead to spacing between adjacent teeth and may require extraction or orthodontic treatment to address.

Naturally Occurring Interdental Gaps

Natural interdental gaps, commonly known as diastemas, are spaces that occur between certain teeth in the dental arch and are considered normal variations in tooth morphology. These gaps may serve functional or aesthetic purposes, contributing to the overall harmony and balance of the smile.

For instance, the midline diastema between the maxillary central incisors is a common natural occurrence, adding character and individuality to one’s dental appearance. Similarly, gaps between other teeth, such as the upper lateral incisors and canines or the lower central incisors and canines, are also considered natural variations and can enhance the overall aesthetics of the smile.

Pathologically occurring Interdental Gaps

Pathological interdental gaps, in contrast, result from underlying dental issues or abnormalities and may lead to functional problems and aesthetic concerns. These gaps can arise due to factors such as tooth loss, periodontal disease, dental trauma, malocclusion, or abnormal tooth eruption patterns.

Unlike natural diastemas, pathological gaps often require intervention to restore proper tooth alignment, function, and oral health.

Treatment options for pathological gaps may include orthodontic treatment to close the gaps, periodontal therapy to address underlying gum disease, dental restorations to replace missing teeth, or surgical interventions to correct malocclusion or abnormal tooth eruption patterns. Proper evaluation and management by a dental professional are essential for diagnosing and treating pathological interdental gaps effectively.

Cure for interdental gaps

  1. Orthodontic Treatment: Orthodontic interventions such as braces or clear aligners can be used to gradually move teeth into proper alignment and close interdental gaps. This approach is effective for addressing gaps caused by tooth misalignment or malocclusion.
  2. How long do braces take to fill the gaps? The time braces take to close gaps varies, typically from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the gap size and individual teeth movement.
  3. Dental Restorations: Dental restorations such as dental bonding or veneers can be used to fill in small interdental gaps and improve the appearance of the smile. These restorations are bonded to the teeth and can be customised to match the natural colour and shape of the surrounding teeth.
  4. Dental Implants or Bridges: For interdental gaps resulting from tooth loss, dental implants or bridges can be used to replace missing teeth and fill in the gap. Dental implants are surgically placed in the jawbone and topped with a prosthetic tooth, while bridges are supported by adjacent teeth and span the gap left by the missing tooth.
  5. Periodontal Therapy: If interdental gaps are caused by gum disease or periodontal issues, periodontal therapy such as scaling and root planning or gum grafting may be recommended to restore gum health and address the underlying cause of the gaps.
  6. Surgical Intervention: In some cases, surgical procedures such as frenectomy or orthognathic surgery may be necessary to correct abnormalities in the soft tissue or jawbone that contribute to interdental gaps.

How much does it cost to fix gap in teeth?

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the estimated price range

Solution Rough Pricing (AUD)
Composite Bonding $300 – $600 per tooth
Orthodontic Appliances $6,000 – $15,000 (total)
Dental Veneers $1,000 – $2,500 per tooth
Gum Surgery Varies widely based on complexity
Dental Implants $3,000 – $7,000 per implant

*Data from Orthodontics Australia

FAQs

Does flossing cause gaps in teeth?

Flossing does not create gaps in teeth. Inadequate flossing may damage gums or teeth but does not lead to gaps. Regular, gentle flossing is used for oral hygiene.

Why do baby’s front teeth have

These gap teeth can occur between a child’s primary (baby) teeth and can be natural part of the development process and is considered normal if it is less than 2mm. They can however also be caused by various factors, including the size of the teeth, the size of the jaw, missing teeth, or habits such as thumb sucking.

Why are some people born with a gap in their front teeth?

Undersized teeth: When your teeth are a bit too small for your jawbone, this disproportion can lead to the formation of gaps.

Fix the Gap in Your Teeth at Fox Orthodontics

At Fox Orthodontics, we provide individualised solutions and we are committed about producing smiles that not only look good but also feel fantastic.

Contact us if you have any questions or want to reach out to us. We are here to help you achieve a healthy and lasting smile.