How to close the gap between the front teeth

What is a gap from a dental point of view?

In dentists' language, the gap between teeth is called diastema (from Greek - “gap, distance”). According to statistics, varying degrees of this defect are present in every fifth adult on the planet. In childhood, increased interdental space is often temporary; it is observed in 50% of preschool children. Diastema refers to an abnormally large empty space between the incisors (can reach 10 mm).

Patients often confuse a diastema (a gap between “units”) with a trema (a gap between any teeth in a row), although formally these are completely different defects, although similar in essence. Accordingly, the approach to treatment/elimination is different in both cases.

Big or not?

How can you tell if your teeth are big? Dentists have developed relative standards for the teeth of the average European. The central upper incisors are normally 9-13 mm long, and the lateral incisors are 2 mm shorter. The normal ratio of width to height of a tooth is 1.25%.

A person is diagnosed with macrodentia if the size of the dental crowns exceeds the norm by 1.5 times. At the same time, large baby teeth in a child are a reason to contact the dentist and check the dental follicles for fusion.

Reasons for the appearance and enlargement of gaps between teeth

The gap between the front teeth is a result of internal or external factors. Most often it occurs as a result of:

poor heredity (if there were those in the family who had a gap, the risk of it appearing in the offspring is very high);

slow growth and formation of incisors located in the center of the row;

pronounced expression of interdental papillae;

pathologies associated with the arrangement of teeth in a row;

received mechanical injuries, where the main load fell on the front incisors;

incorrect location of the lip frenulum;

slow process of changing baby teeth to permanent ones;

gum pathologies;

abuse of bad habits;

partial or complete absence of teeth in a row (for cases where improper formation of the dental system is diagnosed).

The cause may also be the presence of microdentia, which inherently affects the symmetry of the teeth.

An increase in an existing gap occurs for the following reasons:

abuse of chewing seeds;
progressive problems with the root system;
the appearance/development of various types of orthodontic pathologies;
Frequent chewing of hard food (particularly with the front teeth).

Correct and recommended prevention will help maintain the diastema at the existing level (prevent the distance between the incisors from becoming larger), and the orthodontist will select an individual program for eliminating the defect.

Types of diastemas

How the gap between the teeth can be removed depends on the reasons why the gap appeared. Therefore, it is very important to correctly identify the species. Diastemas are classified according to three main characteristics:

By time of occurrence of the defect
:
True. Diagnosed in adolescents and adults in the period after the formation of the bite. It occurs due to periodontal pathologies, injuries or the absence of some frontal teeth in a row.
By location
:
Asymmetrical
. Most often, one of the incisors is in its place, and the second is deviated relative to the conditional center.
According to the position of roots and teeth
:
Hull literal offset
. A common cause of the defect is excessively compacted bone tissue of the middle suture, which does not allow teeth to erupt in the place where they are needed. It is expressed in the lateral displacement of both the root and the incisor.
Medial tilt
. The most complex defect that can occur with the central incisors. As in the previous case, teeth and roots shift, but they can grow not only to the sides, but also with a displacement around their own axis.

To understand how to remove the gap between the front teeth and which method is best to choose, the dentist must correctly determine the type of diastema. Keep in mind that it is impossible to get rid of a gap on your own or at home - you cannot do this without the help of a specialized doctor.

In pursuit of unusualness

But some people want to stand out so much that they go to extreme measures. Popular in the last decade, vampire-like fangs have become part of a certain subculture.

One of the cosmetic rejuvenation procedures, for example, involves increasing molars. This changes the bite, lengthens the face and leads to a visible reduction in nasolabial folds and correction of the facial contour.

But such vampire fangs did not bring joy to the Chinese boy Wang Penfei. In 2012, his fangs grew and his growth slowed. The boy became withdrawn and aggressive with peers who were whispering behind his back.

The longest fang – 36.7 mm – was removed from an 18-year-old Indian in 2017. It turned out to be 4.7 mm longer than what was already included in the Guinness Book of Records. For comparison: the average size of a human fang is 20 mm.

How can a gap be dangerous?

A small gap between the teeth can be a highlight and be regarded solely as an aesthetic defect. This problem does not bother some people, even those who are often under the gun of video cameras (for example, E. Temnikova, Madonna, K. Novikova, V. Paradis, K. Raikin, etc.). However, in some cases, diastema can cause serious functional disorders. Without therapeutic intervention, the size of the gap will increase, which has the following consequences:

speech defects (their degree depends on the size of the diastema);
violation/change in bite (due to uneven chewing load on the upper and lower jaw);
caries (pathogenic bacteria and hard deposits accumulate in the interdental space; regular home cleaning is not always enough to combat them);
inflammation and other gum diseases (due to direct contact of the gums with chewed food).

An experienced orthodontist can determine exactly how to remove the gap between the front teeth and whether it is necessary for medical reasons. If the defect is purely aesthetic, then only you can decide whether it needs to be eliminated.

Amazing narwhal tooth

There are many amazing teeth in the animal world. But we will only talk about the largest tooth among modern representatives of the fauna.

The first place in the size of teeth, or rather, just one tooth, is occupied by a marine mammal of the cetacean family, narwhal. This inhabitant of the northern waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans is proudly called the sea unicorn. These whales reach impressive sizes - up to 4 meters in length, and the male weighs up to 1.5 tons.

Interestingly, they only have two teeth. At the same time, their left one develops into a spirally twisted tusk up to 3 meters long and weighing 10 kilograms, while the right one is underdeveloped. The purpose of this massive device still raises many questions among zoologists today. This is not a weapon of defense or attack, it is not used to break through ice. It is assumed that this is the sensitive organ of the narwhal - after all, it is penetrated by many tubes, inside of which there are nerve endings.

How to remove a gap between teeth

The main task that a dentist faces when solving the problem of diastema is to achieve the most even alignment of the central incisors. Depending on the chosen method, this process may take 2-3 dental procedures or last several years (the duration of treatment depends on the complexity and causes of the problem, the age of the patient and other factors).

Modern dentistry offers as many as 10 progressive methods of combating the gap between the front teeth:

Surgical plastic surgery.
Bracket systems.
Records.
Veneers.
Lumineers.
Cosmetic correction.
Artistic restoration.
Crowns.
Implants.
Mouthguards.

It would not be superfluous to study in detail the features of each technique, comparing their effectiveness and other characteristics.

Surgical plastic surgery

This method is used in the case of a congenital defect associated with an incorrect position of the labial frenulum (it is because of this that the incisors cannot close correctly). Surgical plastic surgery of the frenulum will not remove the gap, but will create conditions under which the teeth will be able to take the correct position. And after this, the dentist selects an effective method of correction. This technique has several nuances related to the patient’s age:

This procedure is most effective for children 5-8 years old - after the operation, the incisors will close on their own without additional dental intervention.
After surgery, older patients will be forced to wear orthopedic structures (some of which are fixed not temporarily, but permanently).

The plastic surgery itself is safe for health and painless. Does not require long time for rehabilitation and recovery.

Bracket systems

They are non-removable orthodontic structures designed to straighten the dentition. Parts of the structure are fixed directly on the teeth (from the outside or inside). The use of braces to eliminate gaps between teeth has its own nuances:

The method is most effective for patients under 16 years of age, when the jaw tissue is not yet fully formed. For older patients, wearing braces may not help (depending on the individual characteristics of the problem).
The duration of treatment can be up to three years. Braces cannot be removed until the end of the period prescribed by the doctor. In addition, regular visits to the dentist are required (to tighten the braces and change the arches).

It is worth noting that to eliminate a diastema, it will not be possible to place braces only on the incisors - the structure is installed on the entire dentition at once.

Records

One of the most affordable and effective methods for correcting interdental space. These removable structures are made of high-quality plastic and are secured to the teeth using screws, hooks and springs. Due to the created load, the incisors are gradually attracted to each other. The features of this technique include the following facts:

Efficacy is guaranteed in patients under 12 years of age. It is up to this age that the bone tissue of the jaws is perfectly amenable to correction.
The plates are not able to cope with significant defects. For example, when the gap is caused by serious dental diseases.

It is worth keeping in mind that, in fact, the plates do not move the teeth like braces, but simply hold them in a given position.

Veneers

Installing veneers can be considered the most efficient option for solving the problem with a chip. They are thin ceramic plates that are used to cover the front surface of teeth. That is, formally the gap is not removed, but closed. The procedure has its own characteristics:

Veneers do not correct, but disguise the gap, therefore they are suitable only for those cases where the diastema is not a medical, but an aesthetic defect.
Average service life is about 10 years. After this, the veneers will have to be changed.
Before installing veneers, a small grinding of the incisors will be required.

Ceramic plates come in a variety of colors, so you can choose ones that will not differ from natural enamel.

Lumineers

Orthopedic onlays are as similar as possible to veneers, but thinner. They are also fixed on the teeth, closing the gap. Features include:

longer than veneers, service life - up to 20 years;
installation does not require extensive grinding of teeth.

As in the case of braces, lumineers do not solve, but mask the problem. In addition, they are not suitable for everyone, so you need to pay attention to the list of contraindications.

Cosmetic correction

A budget option that allows you to get quick results. The essence of the procedure is that the gap between the teeth is filled with a filling, which makes the diastema visually invisible. This correction is safe for health, painless and is carried out in one visit to the dentist. The features include the following facts:

the problem is solved temporarily - the seal has a relatively short service life (5-7 years), so it will need to be replaced;
The filling material changes color over time, which visually begins to differ from the native enamel;
There is a risk of developing caries at the junction of the incisors.

Those who choose cosmetic correction to eliminate the gap will have to control the load on the “units” so that the filling remains unchanged and does not break.

Artistic restoration

The method is similar to cosmetic correction, but guarantees a longer lasting result. Using composite materials, the dentist builds up the tissue of the front teeth, closing the gap. As a result, the visual impression is created that the incisors are tightly closed. Features of artistic restoration:

the most natural appearance after the procedure (photopolymers are matched to the color of the native enamel);
Just one visit to the dentist is enough to get the desired result;
the procedure is safe for health and has no contraindications.

The main similarity with cosmetic correction is that after artistic restoration you will also have to control the load on the incisors when eating.

Crowns

Plastic, ceramic or metal-ceramic crowns perfectly solve the problem of diastema. In this case, the cap-shaped design completely covers the teeth (in the case of a gap, it is necessary to apply crowns to both) and does not stand out in any way in the row. Features of installing crowns:

average service life 10-15 years (depending on the material);
safe for health;
preliminary turning of the cutters is required.

The installation of crowns for diastema is not used as often as other methods.

Implants

Implantation is used if the cause of the gap between the incisors is the absence of one or more teeth in a row. Filling the empty spaces will not allow the “ones” to continue to “spread out.” But, even if the dentition is replenished, the gap will remain and will have to be eliminated using some other of the listed methods.

Mouth guards

They are removable orthopedic structures that are manufactured using 3D technology. They look like original “cases” that are put on the teeth and are visually invisible. The mouthguard creates pressure, forcing the “ones” to move in the desired direction, which leads to their closure.

The duration of use of mouth guards (depending on the complexity of the problem) is from three months to three years. During this period, sequential replacement of the aligners is carried out, carried out as the “ones” move. From time to time, the mouthguards are allowed to be removed.

Correction methods

Modern dentistry offers several ways to solve the problem of large teeth. Only a professional doctor - a dentist or orthodontist - will tell the patient what to do and whether it is necessary. The following techniques will help correct the size of teeth:

Grinding with a special machine can grind down the enamel and give the teeth the optimal size and shape.
If necessary, it is possible to correct teeth with restoration using a modern composite.
If it is not possible to sharpen the teeth, you can build up the adjacent teeth using ceramic onlays (veneers, lumineers).
In some cases, large teeth are just the consequences of an incorrect bite. This is corrected with braces.
As a last resort, you can resort to removing the tooth and replacing it with an implant of the required size.

Preventive actions

As you know, preventing the onset of a disease is always easier and cheaper than treatment. To prevent the appearance of gaps between teeth, you must follow basic rules:

control the habit of chewing hard objects (for example, seeds, nuts, crackers, threads, wire, etc.);
carry out proper hygienic care of the oral cavity (to maintain the health of the gums and prevent the spread of bacteria, it is very important to brush your teeth correctly, carefully brushing not only the chewing units, but also the canines and incisors);
Conduct timely examinations with a dentist (this allows you to diagnose any deviation in time and begin treatment at an early stage).

If the cause of the appearance of interdental gaps is a genetic predisposition, it is very important to begin correction as early as possible. Maximum effectiveness is possible during the period when the teeth are still mobile in the gums and can be rebuilt.

Now you know exactly how to remove the gap between your front teeth, what methods are used for this and how long it takes to eliminate the defect. All that remains is to consult with an orthodontist and, after examination and research, choose a method for eliminating the diastema that is right for you.

The evolution of our teeth

The teeth of our ancestors, who lived 100 thousand years ago, were twice as large as the average teeth of a modern person. This was explained by biological necessity - rough plant foods and raw meat required just such a chewing apparatus.

Over time, human teeth decreased, according to anthropologists' calculations, by 1% every thousand years. In addition, they not only became smaller, but also changed their purpose. Our largest tooth is the first molar on the upper jaw. The canines have lost their function of holding food and have also become smaller. But not all people grow third molars (wisdom teeth).

Sometimes it's beautiful

Large, healthy teeth give a person a more youthful appearance. Aesthetic features often become a calling card and a sign of individuality.

Would Hilary Swank (pictured), Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway become so popular if their smile was “like everyone else’s” - after all, it is this that gives them that piquancy and charm for which their fans love them so much.

So before you give yourself a standard smile, think - maybe it’s your imperfect teeth that are the highlight of your appearance and make you different from others.