Effective and Personalized Treatment for Gapped Teeth
Gapped teeth can impact your appearance and leave you feeling self-conscious about your smile. On top of that, they can sometimes cause oral health problems. For example, food can more easily become trapped in the spaces, or your lip could rub up against the edges.
At 38th Street Dental, we offer restorative dentistry treatment for gapped teeth. When you come to our Austin, TX practice, we will evaluate your health needs and your budget. Then we can help you find a treatment that works for you. If you have large gaps left by missing teeth, we can treat those as well. We offer several types of dental restorations to replace missing teeth and renew your complete oral function.
What Causes Gapped Teeth?
Gaps can occur anywhere along your dental arch, but they most frequently affect your front teeth. There are several reasons for gapped teeth, also known as diastema:
- Teeth that are disproportionately small in relation to your jawbone
- An enlarged labial frenum (the tag of skin between your upper lip and upper gums)
- Thumb sucking after teething has begun
- An improper swallowing reflex
- Undersized nearby teeth
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is one of the simplest treatments for gapped teeth. During this process, Dr. Meek or Dr. Tasch will reshape your teeth with composite, the same material used for tooth-colored fillings. Your dentist will carefully extend the material beyond the edges of your teeth to fill in the spaces. At the same time, he can conceal any other cosmetic flaws, like cracks, chips, or stains. Once all composite is in place, and the gap is closed, your practitioner will harden the material by shining a curing light on your teeth.
Dental Crowns
If the gap in your teeth is due to an undersized tooth, we may recommend a dental crown. This type of restoration will fully cover your tooth. We proudly offer crowns made from the top-of-the-line materials. These include all-porcelain, zirconia, and IPS e.max®. Consequently, in addition to filling in the space between teeth, your restoration will also blend naturally with the rest of your smile.
Filling in the Gaps Caused by Tooth Loss
Missing teeth will, of course, leave a sizeable gap. They can also cause additional spacing issues because your nearby teeth will often drift into this space. Our full range of restorations can replace your missing teeth and, at the same time, help maintain your healthy alignment. We offer dental bridges, which can be anchored to your natural teeth. Dental implants can also replace one or more teeth, but they will be placed directly in your jawbone. Thus, they will not compromise the surrounding teeth, and they can help to prevent jawbone recession.
Contact Us to Enjoy a Truly Spectacular Smile
With our range of treatments, we can quickly and easily do away with that space between your teeth. Contact 38th Street Dental today to learn more about our treatment options and to find out which one may be right for you.
