Gaps between the teeth are fairly common, particularly between the front teeth of the upper jaw. There are many causes for gaps in the teeth, with the positioning of the maxillary labial fraenum (the string of tissue that attaches your top lip to your upper gum) being one of the most common. As this tissue can help guide the positioning of teeth, when it sits lower than normal, it can lead to gapped front teeth.
Other causes of gapped teeth can be:
Natural development – the teeth usually have gaps between them when they first come through, however, this is usually corrected by the arrival of the canine teeth, as they push the front teeth closer together.
Missing teeth – some children are born with missing baby or adult teeth, leaving a space between teeth.
Extra teeth – the presence of extra teeth can prevent teeth from coming through properly, leaving a gap as a result.
In a society where perfect, straight teeth are presented as a key feature of beauty, it is no surprise that people of all ages lack confidence in their smiles when suffering from gaps in their teeth. However, whilst there are many causes for gapped teeth, there are also a number of orthodontic treatments that can help with gapped teeth, restoring people’s confidence in their smile as well as helping to prevent a number of other problems that can result from gapped teeth.
Common orthodontic treatments for gapped teeth include:
Metal Braces – Metal braces are the most widely recognised form of braces and are fitted to the front of the teeth with a wire running through. This wire is kept in place by small elastic bands. These braces are widely in use and can be very effective in treating gapped teeth.
Ceramic Braces – Ceramic braces are also fitted to the front of your teeth, but are much more subtle in appearance, consisting of tooth coloured brackets with metal wires. They work in the same way as metal braces, but are much less noticeable. This form of treatment is popular amongst patients that don’t like the idea of drawing attention to their treatment.
Lingual Braces – Like ceramic braces, lingual braces are also a much more discreet way of addressing gapped teeth. Rather than being fitted to the front of the teeth, lingual braces are bonded to the back of the teeth and are invisible to other people.
Clear Aligners – Clear aligners are one of the most popular treatments for treating gapped teeth and are almost invisible. As a result, they are well suited to people that feel self-conscious about their braces showing. Aligners are wafer thin and made specifically for each patient from medical grade transparent plastic, fitting like a mouth guard. This system is designed to gradually move the teeth to the desired position by changing to a new set of aligners every two weeks.
Self-Ligating Braces – Self ligating braces are an alternative to traditional metal braces and use a metal clip to keep the wire in place, rather than elastic bands. This form of brace is designed to be more comfortable than other braces as well as reducing treatment time – this is because the wires don’t require tightening at every appointment with an orthodontist.
At Oldham Orthodontics, we can provide a number of different treatments for gapped teeth to suit each patient. If you have noticeable gaps between your teeth, you can call us on 0161 622 0987 to organise an appointment, where we will help you to decide on the best orthodontic treatment to suit you.
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