Gappy Teeth

Having gap teeth, also known as diastema, can be caused by genetics, tooth size differences, or missing teeth.

While some people love their unique smile, others might feel self-conscious and want a more uniform look.

If you want to close the gaps, there are effective treatments like Invisalign, composite bonding, porcelain veneers or a combination of all three

Google rating score of 4.8 of 5, based on 500+ reviews

Problems with gappy teeth

Feeling Self-Conscious: Gaps in your teeth can make you feel embarrassed about your smile.
Food Getting Stuck: Food can get stuck in the gaps, making it harder to keep your teeth clean and causing cavities or gum health problems.

Speech Problems: Big gaps can sometimes affect how you talk, causing a lisp or trouble saying certain sounds.
Bite Issues: Gaps can change how your top and bottom teeth fit together, which might lead to problems when biting.

Options to treat gappy teeth

Invisalign Clear Braces: Custom-made clear plastic aligners that gradually move teeth into place. They are removable for eating and cleaning.
Porcelain Veneers: Thin porcelain or composite resin shells that cover the front of teeth to close gaps and improve appearance.
Composite: Tooth-colored resin applied to teeth to close gaps. It's a quick and non-invasive option.

Dental Implants or Bridges: If you have missing teeth causing larger gaps, implants or bridges can replace them and close the gaps.
Jaw Surgery: In severe cases, jaw surgery can align the jaw and teeth.

Why do I have gappy teeth and what can be done?

There are several potential reasons why someone may develop

crooked or misaligned teeth.

Gappy Teeth: Gappy teeth, also known as spacing or gaps between teeth, can be caused by a variety of factors including genetics, missing teeth, or jaw discrepancies. Composite bonding is a common solution where a tooth-colored resin is applied to the teeth to close the gaps. This procedure is minimally invasive and can provide immediate results for improving the appearance of gappy teeth.
Diastema: Diastema is the medical term for gaps between teeth, particularly noticeable between the upper front teeth. Invisalign is an effective treatment option for correcting diastema. It uses clear, removable aligners that gradually move teeth into the desired position. Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible, comfortable to wear, and allow for easy oral hygiene maintenance since they can be removed when eating or cleaning. This treatment is suitable for mild to moderate cases of diastema and provides a discreet and effective solution for achieving a straighter smile.

Does Gum Disease Cause Gaps in Teeth?

Gum disease doesn’t directly cause gaps in teeth. However, advanced gum disease (periodontitis) can lead to bone loss and gum tissue recession, which may cause spaces between teeth to form as the gum pulls away.

If this happens, it’s important to first treat the gum disease to prevent further issues. Once the gum disease is under control, options like composite bonding, Invisalign, or porcelain veneers can be used to close the gaps between teeth.

How to Close Gaps in Teeth
There are different ways to close gaps between teeth. For smaller gaps, composite bonding is a good option. This involves applying a tooth-colored material to the teeth to fill in the gaps. It's quick, affordable and non invasive.

For gaps that need more movement, Invisalign might be recommended. It uses clear, removable braces that gradually shift your teeth into place.

Other options include porcelain veneers, which are thin, custom-made shells that cover the front surface of your teeth to close gaps and improve your smile.

How to Fix Gaps in Teeth
Fixing gaps in teeth depends on how big the gaps are and your preferences. If the gaps are small, composite bonding is a simple solution.

It can be done in just one visit. If you have larger gaps, Invisalign is a good choice because it can move your teeth over time with clear aligners that are easy to wear.

Larger gaps fixed with composite bonding or porcelain veneers can make the teeth large, bulky and unaesthetic.

Concerns about gappy teeth and Solutions

Concern

Solution

Self-Consciousness: Feeling embarrassed or self-conscious about the gaps in your teeth.

Consider treatments like composite bonding, Invisalign, or porcelain veneers to close the gaps and improve the appearance of your smile.

Difficulty Cleaning: Gaps can cause food to get stuck and make it harder to clean your teeth properly.

Practice good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing. Your dentist may recommend special tools like interdental brushes to clean between teeth. Treatments mentioned above can also help to close the gaps between the teeth.

Speech Issues: Large gaps can sometimes affect your speech, causing difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.

Depending on the severity of the gaps, treatments like Invisalign, composite bonding or porcelain veneers can help close the gaps.

Bite Problems: Gaps can affect how your upper and lower teeth come together, potentially leading to bite issues and jaw discomfort.

Orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign can correct the alignment of your teeth and improve your bite.

Treatment Cost and Time: Concerns about the cost and duration of treatment.

Some treatments, like composite bonding, are more affordable and require less time than others. There are also 0% finance options which can help spread the cost over a longer period of time.

Maintenance: How to maintain the results of treatment.

Your dentist will provide you with instructions on how to care for your teeth and any dental appliances used in your treatment.

Gappy Teeth FAQ

What causes gappy teeth?

Gappy teeth, or diastema, can be caused by factors such as genetics, mismatched tooth size, missing teeth, thumb sucking habits, or gum disease that leads to gum recession.