A lot of the aesthetic appeal we see in someone’s face depends on facial symmetry, and the teeth play a large role in that impression-making process. While some people find the gap between their front teeth to be appealing and unique, others may not want to keep theirs. It might surprise you to know that there are actually quite a few dental treatments other than dental veneers that could be performed to address a gap. Today we are going to have a look at how to fill a gap in your teeth, with a special focus on porcelain veneers.
How To Fill A Gap In Your Teeth: The Best Dental Procedures
The best way to address gaps in your teeth is to consult with your dentist. Each patient presents with different circumstances and requires different considerations. Once you have had a dental consultation, you will be presented with a treatment plan that details the various treatment options available to you as well as the associated costs. It’s never a bad idea to seek a second opinion either.
The dental treatments available to you will also depend on where the gaps in your teeth are. Having one gap between your front two teeth (diastema) may require a different treatment approach to filling lots of gaps between the other teeth.
Invisalign Braces
If you are a more mature patient who has an established dental hygiene routine, you may be a candidate for Invisalign braces. Clear aligners offer a more discreet way to straighten teeth, making them ideal for adults and older teenagers.
Teeth that present with gaps because they are crooked, would benefit from orthodontic treatment. The good news is that you do not have to put your life on hold for metal braces; clear aligners offer you the same teeth straightening action in a more discreet manner. If you have lots of gaps between many teeth, you may benefit from orthodontic treatment or clear aligners, to close the gaps between your teeth.
Dental Bonding
During the process of dental bonding, your dentist will apply a coat of resin to the sides of your teeth, to increase their surface area and effectively widen them. One of the major benefits of dental bonding is that it can be done in the dentist’s chair, and usually on the same day, giving you immediate treatment.
While the resin is stain resistant to some extent, it can become discoloured, and it is not as strong as your natural teeth. If you have a large gap between your teeth (diastema), dental bonding may be recommended to you.
Dental Implants
In some instances, the gaps between teeth are too large to be filled by other means, and your dentist may recommend placing dental implants in the spaces.
Dental Veneers
We favour dental veneers and in particular, porcelain veneers as the most effective way to address a gap in the teeth. Dental veneers are tooth-shaped covers that are placed over the teeth to be treated, making them a bit stronger and addressing aesthetic concerns like
- Misshapen or damaged teeth
- Cracked, broken or chipped teeth
- Discoloured teeth
- Small teeth
Dental Veneers vs Dental Bonding
One of the advantages that dental veneers have over dental bonding is the size of the restoration that is placed is much bigger, covering the whole tooth. Pieces of bonded resin may come off with excessive force, but dental veneers are bonded to the tooth with dental cement and cannot come off.
Porcelain veneers are very strong and look and feel like your natural teeth. The way that porcelain reflects light, as well as its resistance to stains and the close colour match to your natural teeth, make it a very good long term solution. With proper care, porcelain veneers can last for up to 25 years. Porcelain veneers can have a more natural-looking result than composite resin bonding.
Porcelain veneers provide a very good outcome for many patients who have diastema because it gives the dentist a chance to increase the surface area of both front teeth very quickly and with a natural-looking result. When porcelain veneers are used, they can be colour matched closely to the other teeth, so the dental veneers are hardly noticeable.
Dental Veneers vs Orthodontics
If the rest of your teeth are relatively straight and your gap is not caused by misalignment, you may not need orthodontics. Furthermore, wearing braces or clear aligners may take six months to three years to straighten crooked teeth, whereas porcelain veneers offer a difference in just two to three visits to your dentist if teeth straightening is not your priority.
If your gap is caused by crooked teeth, or you have more gaps between your teeth than just the front teeth, orthodontic braces may be recommended.
It’s essential to discuss the pros and cons of the various treatment options with your dentist before committing to anything. It’s important to make the best choice for your long term dental health and not just focus on short term considerations such as cost.
To find out if porcelain veneers are an option for you when it comes to how to fill a gap in your teeth, please contact us:
Pyrmont: (02) 9158 6213
Illawong: (02) 9158 6756
Sylvania Waters: (02) 9159 6083
