Diastema; Causes and Treatments

LAST UPDATED: JULY 29, 2016

What is the Best Way to Fix Spaces or Gaps in Between the Teeth?

“What’s your No. 1 concern?” I ask patients.

“I’ve got a space between my two front teeth,” they reply.

This conversation is common.

Sometimes, they’ve dealt with for a while and thought, “Okay, I’m ready to get this fixed.” Other times, it’s a recent concern that pops up.

Teeth Gaps FAQ

What Causes the Spacing in Between Your Teeth?

The No. 1 cause for spacing in between the front two teeth, which is a little bit more common, is a low muscle attachment. A muscle attaches your upper lip to your gums allowing your upper lip to be mobile. It causes your lip to be fixated; otherwise you could pull your upper lip over your nose. Everyone’s muscle attaches a little differently. On some people, the muscle attaches lower than normal--right in between the two front teeth. When that happens, you’re more prone to have a space develop. Anytime you eat, talk, chew, and move your upper lip, you pull that muscle. This causes a force, pulling those two front teeth together. If you don’t have a space anywhere except in between your two front teeth, chances are you have a low muscle attachment.

How do you fix it? There are different methods, depending on how the teeth fit together and the size of the space.

If it’s a minor space that just started to open up, or just a crack or hair size, the easiest fix is with a regular retainer. It will pull the teeth together and push them back to where they need to be within a week or two. This works best when patients had treatment before, but the spaces opened again. Or, maybe they lost their retainers, and the spaces in between the teeth decided to open up again. With these cases, we can typically fix the spaces with a retainer in a couple weeks.

The Space

If the space is larger, we have to think about how the teeth come together. If you can imagine a big gap or space in between the front teeth, we pull those together. But, the teeth don’t come together or just slide together, but come back. That’s just the nature of closing the teeth. If we were just to pull the teeth together, you can imagine the spaces on the other sides of the teeth. So, in order to close that space, keep the spaces closed on the back sides of the teeth, we actually pull the teeth slightly inwards. We won’t pull them enough to the point where you would notice the teeth changing position or a change of profile, but just enough to affect your bite.

Sometimes due to the way the top and bottom teeth come together, there isn’t a lot of overbite but a lot of spacing. Then, you will actually need lower braces, even if your lower teeth are completely straight, because we pull those upper teeth back. We need to put on lower braces to get those teeth in position, causing everything to fit together nicely.

How Do you Keep the Space Closed?

1.) Surgery. A gum specialist can remove the muscle attachment and put it in a different place. This is a long-term fix. But, many patients don’t want a surgical procedure for their teeth to stay the way they want, so there’s another option.

2.) Gluing a wire behind the teeth to act as a permanent retainer.  The wire’s small, smooth, and low-profile, keeping the teeth together. But, it takes more diligence to keep it clean, requiring flossing under it like you would the braces. Fortunately, it’s just on your two front teeth. When you have a low muscle attachment, the wire keeps the teeth together once the space is closed.

How to Get Your Best Smile

While a smile is the best thing you can wear, some people find themselves self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth. If crooked or misshapen teeth make you want to hide your smile, our team of orthodontists in Stafford is here to help! We know just what it takes to bring out the beautiful smile in anyone, and will work to do whatever is necessary to give you a grin you’ll be proud to show! Contact us today and let us get you started on the road to a beautiful smile.

Beecroft Orthodontics

239 Garrisonville Rd. Suite #101 Stafford,Virginia

Phone: 540-659-6300 Fax: 540-288-0706

Diastema; Causes and Treatments

Smile, It Lets Your Teeth Breathe

If you experience difficulty when opening or closing your mouth, if you hear popping or clicking sound when you move your jaw, or if you grind your teeth when stressed or while sleeping, you may have TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain. TMJ contributes to stiffness in the jaw and in the way your teeth meet together. Estimates from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research report that nearly 10 million Americans have TMJ pain. Some sufferers try not to move their jaws or limit how often they open their mouths because of the associated pain.

There are several ways that a King George orthodontist treats TMJ conditions that will relieve your jaw stiffness, enable you to speak and eat pain free, and let your teeth breathe comfortably without the need to keep them clinched tight.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Braces:

There are a variety of braces King George specialists use to correct and obtain a smooth alignment of your jaw and teeth. Braces range from the traditional metal and wire appliances to several clear versions. The orthodontist will recommend the best treatment for your personal situation.

Retainers:

According to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry, certain types of retainers help maintain the proper alignment of your teeth and jaw. Retainers are designed for both daytime and night time wear. The night time retainers work so well, many patients tell their King George orthodontist that the retainers help them breathe better while sleeping.

Surgery:

Orthognathic surgery is an orthodontic treatment to correct severe bad bites, malocclusions, and jaw bone abnormalities. After surgery, your jaw will be properly aligned and orthodontic braces will be used to move your teeth into their correct positions.

Don’t suffer another day when you can arrange a consultation today with your King George orthodontist by clicking on our contact page.

Beecroft Orthodontics

9449 Grover Dr. King George, Virginia

Phone: 540-775-2022

Smile, It Lets Your Teeth Breathe

Life Is Short: Smile While You Still Have Teeth

As a mom, you notice the significant impact bad teeth have on your child’s ability to smile. Life is short not to smile. Unlike tooth decay that you can prevent through proper hygiene practices, the structure of your kid’s teeth is something you have no control of. Orthodontic services such as those that we offer at Beecroft Orthodontics correct issues such as incorrect jaw positioning, crooked and overcrowded teeth and under bites. Our teamcomprises some of the most qualified Fredericksburg orthodontists. Our braces services aim to improve your child’s facial structure for a smile that boosts their self-esteem.

Braces

Braces are a commitment, but they are not as complicated as people make them out to be. They are a small cost for straighter teeth. To ensure a positive experience after having braces, we take you through a list of do and don’ts to keep them intact and efficient. It may take months or years before we remove braces, depending on the extent of the damage. We know how frustrating it can get, and that is why our braces variety provides aesthetically improved options to fit in as accessories. A functional accessory of all sorts for your little girls and boys! If you are looking for the best braces in Fredericksburg, look no further.

Metal Braces

They are pretty much standard and this is the reason most people prefer them. The stainless material used makes them solely functional and durable. The braces stay in position by use of rubber bands, which create pressure on the teeth, forcing them into the correct position. We also offer lingual braces that are placed behind the teeth to be less conspicuous.

Some of the more functional and aesthetic varieties we offer include ceramic braces, Invisalign clear, and self-ligating. You no longer have to watch your child smile and feel self-conscious. Give us a call on 540-898-2200 to book an appointment or visit our website on http://beecroftorthodontics.com/ and see some of the smiles we have brought to people’s faces.

BEECROFT ORTHODONTICS

10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, VA 22553

Phone: 540 898 2200

Life Is Short: Smile While You Still Have Teeth