Etobicoke Dentist: The Gap Between the Teeth
Etobicoke Dentist — One concern that motivates people of all ages to seek orthodontic treatment is the gap between the teeth or the diastema. People who have gaps between their teeth usually treat it as a cosmetic concern where they want it fixed for the sake of improving the appearance of their smile. However, some people also have them fixed because it can be pretty disruptive when they eat, it can affect their speech, and it can have other negative effects on their oral health.
Diastema is the gap or the space between the teeth that are commonly present between the two upper front teeth, although it can also form anywhere inside the mouth. For children, it may only appear as a temporary problem before their permanent teeth start erupting, but for adults, it is usually a permanent condition. The cause of diastema varies from different possible contributing factors.
What are the causes of diastema? — Etobicoke Dentist
Diastema can be a result of the following reasons:
- If the size of the teeth and the size of the jaw are not compatible and end up resulting in either tooth crowding or extra space between teeth. This is determined by genetics.
- If there is an overgrowth of your labial frenum or the tissue that borders your gum line and your two upper front teeth which can lead to the blockage of the natural closing of the space between the teeth.
- Constant thumbsucking as a child can trigger diastema because the sucking motion puts pressure on the front teeth.
- Incorrect swallowing reflexes wherein the tongue pushes against the front teeth—also referred to as tongue thrust—instead of the tongue positioning itself at the roof of the mouth.
- Diastema can also be caused by gum disease because the inflammation damages the gums and tissue supporting the teeth.
How to treat diastema? — Etobicoke Dentist
The treatment of diastema also depends on the cause of the gap. If the underlying cause of your diastema is gum disease or periodontitis then the dentist will have to treat and stop the infection first before proceeding with the actual treatment to close the gap. The gum disease treatment that needs to be administered is scaling and root planing to remove accumulated tartar from above and below the gums.
If the gum disease is severe, a surgery that might involve bone and tissue regeneration might take place. If your diastema is caused by an overextension of your labial frenum or soft tissue, then a surgery called frenectomy is done to reduce or remove excess tissue. If done to a child, the gap may close on its own but if done to an adult, you may need braces to fully close the space.
For some people, a diastema is purely a cosmetic concern that they want to fix for the sake of the enhancement of their smiles. To do so, there are orthodontic and cosmetic treatments that cater to this particular concern. The most common and popular one is braces. Dental braces Etobicoke help put pressure on the teeth to move them together and close the gap over time.
Some other options that you can try if you’re not keen on the idea of wearing braces for a considerable amount of time are cosmetic procedures such as veneers and bonding. Dental veneers Etobicoke are the thin layer of material placed over the tooth to fix the appearance of your smile. This procedure will easily cover the gaps between your teeth. Bonding is a procedure that involves applying tooth-coloured composite resin to either fill gaps or fit over teeth. However, if the space between your teeth is caused by a missing tooth, it would call for a more extensive dental repair that might include dental implants, bridges, or partial dentures. Contact Sunrise Dentistry or book an appointment for more extensive dental assistance and treatment!