A gap between the two front teeth is called a diastema and can be wide or fairly narrow.
In either case, it is usually felt to be a defect in one's smile, giving the person a "gappy smile".
A modern cosmetic dentist can treat this sort of gap in several ways that make traditional orthodontics unnecessary.
1.
Invisalign is a more pleasant and convenient alternative to traditional metal braces.
Instead of dealing with metal and wires in the mouth for several years, you use removable, clear aligners.
This series of aligners are precisely pre-planned specifically for you.
Computer imaging is used to project the stages of subtle tooth movement and your cosmetic dentist decides how to divide up the total desired movement into a series of short steps.
He will take an impression of your teeth to be sent to the Invisalign laboratory, and from that, about 20 pairs of trays are made.
·Each two weeks, you remove the current pair of trays and start wearing the next pair.
At six-week intervals, you visit your cosmetic dentist for a progress check.
·These aligners are virtually invisible when worn, and can be removed at any time for eating, brushing, or even for a special social occasion.
·Overall, they need to be worn at least 22 hours a day for your treatment to be effective.
·Each pair of trays exerts subtle pressure on selected teeth, in a planned direction.
Slowly, all your teeth start to line up nicely and by the end of your treatment, you will have a straight, evenly spaced smile.
2.
Porcelain veneers are a way of treating a gap when it is relatively narrow.
Rather than actually moving the teeth to close the gap, veneers are shaped so as to simply cover it.
Veneers are thin shells made of dental porcelain which are permanently bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to give them a new shape and new color.
Porcelain veneers are done in two visits.
·In the first visit, the teeth are slightly buffed and prepared to receive the veneers.
A mold is taken of your teeth and sent to the dental lab.
Temporary veneers may be placed over your teeth while the lab makes the permanent ones.
·In the second visit, the permanent veneers are bonded to the prepared teeth.
That gap is now permanently hidden and you have a new, bright smile.
3.
Dental bonding is another way of filling a fairly small gap.
This is done in just one visit.
Dental bonding is a white malleable substance which can be shaped to fill small gaps, or small chips, or to slightly change the shape of a tooth to match its neighbors.
Your cosmetic dentist skillfully works with the dental bonding, keeping in mind your smile, your facial structure, and the particular shade of white your teeth have.
He will select a shade of bonding to match.
Dental bonding doesn't quite have the pearly white sheen of porcelain or natural tooth enamel.
But it is simpler, easier to do, and faster.
Consult With a Professional First The first step in deciding what to do is to consult a well-qualified and experienced cosmetic dentist.
He or she will be able to evaluate the condition of your teeth and recommend the best course of treatment.
It's almost certain that if that gap is bothering you, there is something that can be done to make it go away - forever - and leave you with a smile you'll be proud to show off to everyone.