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Gaps between teeth are common, especially in children 5 and younger. In fact, half of children that age have a gap between their front teeth. In most cases, that gap closes up by age 8 or 9. For those whose gap doesn’t close, they may seek some sort of treatment to close that gap. Will your child’s gap need help to close, or should you wait to see if it closes on its own? 

Fergus Orthodontics has fixed many gaps in many teeth, and we know that different factors can cause such gaps. It’s just as important to figure out what causes the gaps as it is to determine whether the gaps need to be fixed. That’s because if the cause isn’t identified and addressed, it could cause gaps to reopen later. We will be able to figure out what’s causing your gaps and what you will need to fix them.

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Why Do I Have a Gap in My Teeth?

What causes a gap in your teeth? Most of the time, gaps show up between the two upper front teeth. A tooth gap, called a diastema, can have several causes. 

  • Missing teeth or small teeth. If your teeth don’t develop as full-sized teeth, they can create a gap. Some people may be born without lateral incisors, the teeth on either side of the front two teeth. This can also cause a big gap or gaps. 
  • Enlarged frenulum. What is frenulum? It’s that little piece of tissue in the center of your upper lip that connects your lip to your gums. If that’s larger than normal, it could cause a gap between your two front teeth. 
  • Overuse of pacifier or thumbsucking. Dentists recommend children stop thumbsucking or using pacifiers by age 2. Beyond that, it can distort the roof of their mouths and cause gaps between their teeth. They also should avoid tongue thrusting, which can push their teeth forward and apart. 

Gum disease. Gum disease from poor brushing and flossing habits can cause tooth loss, which can lead to gaps. It can also cause loose teeth, which allows them to shift and move away from each other. More gaps. It’s one of the many, many reasons why you need to brush and floss every day!

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How Do I Fix My Gap Teeth?

If you or your child has a gap, how do you fix it? What you should not do is look for Internet remedies. Putting a rubber band around your teeth will not fix your gap properly and will likely cause more damage. What you need is proper treatment from an orthodontist. That’s where Fergus Orthodontics comes in! 

There are several ways to fix gaps in teeth, and orthodontics is one of the most common. 

Braces and Clear Braces

Fergus Orthodontics offers Empower braces and clear braces for its patients. Our braces move your teeth into place using tried-and-true methods, but with more modern technology that provides more efficiency and less discomfort than traditional metal braces. These braces use brackets and archwires to close gaps between your teeth and move them into the proper positions. Our clear braces provide the same amazing results as metal braces, but the clear ceramic brackets better match the natural color of your teeth, making them harder to see. Either choice will close your gaps and give you a beautiful new smile! 

Invisalign

Invisalign and Invisalign Teen are other popular ways to close gaps between teeth and create beautiful smiles. Invisalign can be used to close gaps between teeth and correct problems such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, and crooked teeth.

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Other Ways to Fix Gaps in Teeth

Your dentist can also help close gaps in your teeth with other treatment methods. However, some of these methods can prove costly. Orthodontics is often the first choice when it comes to fixing gaps in your teeth, but these methods may also be used, depending on how many gaps you have and how big they might be. 

Veneers

Veneers are resin or ceramic shells that fit over the front of your teeth to provide a gap-less smile. They tend to be slightly larger than your teeth so that they can fix small gaps in teeth. But veneers aren’t for everyone. Often, your enamel must be buffed down, which means your veneers must be permanent, and they do have to be replaced after several years of use. 

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is used to fix gapped teeth and get quick results. With dental bonding, your dentist applies a resin to your teeth to fill the gap and uses a special light to harden the resin. The downside of dental bonding is that it isn’t as stain-resistant as your natural teeth or crowns, so you have to be careful what you eat and drink. 

Dental Implants

Dental implants might be a good solution for those who are missing teeth. A dental implant can replace a missing tooth and keep your front teeth from getting a gap. A post is surgically implanted in the jaw so the tooth in the dental implant can be screwed into the post. 

Dental Surgery

In some cases, including those with an enlarged frenulum, dental surgery may be used to remove a gap between front teeth and keep the gap from returning. In some cases, patients may need a frenectomy to remove the excess frenulum. Your dentist or oral surgeon may then recommend a round of orthodontic treatment to close the gap properly.

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Gap Treatment Isn’t Always Necessary

Just because you have a gap, does that mean you have to fix it? Not necessarily. Gap teeth are a sign of beauty in some cultures and are often considered a cosmetic issue rather than a health one. If your gapped teeth aren’t causing or indicating dental issues, such as gum disease, there’s no need for treatment unless you want it. As long as your mouth is healthy, you can embrace your gap teeth!

Gap Teeth Repair in Jonesboro, AR

Gap teeth repair can often be done with braces or Invisalign, which can also straighten crooked teeth and fix your bad bite. Are you right for gap teeth repair with braces or Invisalign? If you’re in the Jonesboro, AR, area, we can help you discover that. You can start with a no-obligation evaluation to determine whether orthodontic treatment is right for you. We can provide you with braces or Invisalign treatment that will remove those gaps and give you the smile of your dreams! 

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