A gap in teeth is often enough to ruin the appearance of a person’s smile. It is one of those things people instantly notice during interactions. That can make a person self-conscious when interacting with others. There are many reasons for this. For one, people start to make negative assumptions when a person’s teeth are in poor condition. That enough is enough to lower a person’s self-esteem.
Fortunately, many popular treatments in cosmetic dentistry and prosthetics can be used to fix a gap in teeth.
Treatments used to fix the gap in teeth
1. Veneers
Depending on the severity of the case, veneers can be used to treat small gaps between teeth. Veneers are thin shells that serve as covers for a tooth. They are shaped just like real teeth and serve as masks for teeth, hiding all the flaws on them. Veneers are one of the popular options when it comes to smile makeovers, and these dental prosthetics can be used to deal with other issues like stains, discoloration, and deformed teeth.
2. Bridges
Bridges are dental prostheses explicitly used to bridge gaps between teeth. These devices consist of two parts. A set of teeth that serve as anchors and artificial teeth that are called pontics. The teeth that are used for anchors are often covered with crowns to improve their strength and create a stronger anchor.
Bridges can be used to fill up the holes created by multiple teeth being lost.
3. Implants
Dental implants are another useful option when it comes to filling up gaps between teeth. This solution is reserved for cases when a missing tooth creates the cap. Implants serve as a replacement for the lost tooth and its roots. That separates it from other dental devices that are used to replace missing teeth since these do not address the bone tissue loss that is associated with missing teeth.
Implants are surgically inserted into the patient’s jawbone. The device is typically a metal rod or screw that is made out of titanium. Other materials like zirconium can also be used for implants. After insertion, implants are given a period of up to seven months to fuse with the patient’s jawbone properly. This process is called osseointegration. A crown is attached to the implant once it is fully merged with the surrounding bone tissue.
4. Braces
Braces can also be used to close gaps in a patient’s smile. These devices are used for spaces created by poor alignment. There are many options when it comes to braces like traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and clear braces. All of these devices work using the same principle, gradually pushing the patient’s teeth into place by applying constant pressure on them.
Clear braces are the preferred option nowadays since these are barely visible in the patient’s mouth.
Ready to get rid of the gap in your smile? Contact our professional dental staff at the Chandler office of Impressions Dental to explore all of your options of popular treatments used to fix a gap in teeth.
