Normally speaking, there are gaps between teeth which are covered by gum tissues. Larger teeth gaps, regardless of how they are caused, are going to take a toll on one’s appearance, bringing unpleasant results on both life and work. In addition, it’s easier to get food stuck in larger gaps, creating a path to gingivitis and periodontal disease, which is indeed a troublesome issue. Then, how should we do to deal with large teeth gaps?

    In reality, three approaches are usually applied to deal with the problem. One is orthodontics, in which braces are worn to close the spaces as well as realign the teeth. Or dental veneer can be sought to cover the tooth surface, requiring abrading a thin tier of enamel. Enjoying an aesthetic advantage, it’s commonly used for restoring incisors. Another way is to wear a porcelain crown, which needs to remove quite a large amount of enamel, making it an unfavourable choice. 

    Causes of larger teeth gaps

    Commonly, larger teeth gaps are linked with gum recession. Physiologically teeth gaps are going to become larger as one ages, while pathologically it’s always caused by periodontitis. Along with infection, there will be alveolar bone resorption and gum recession, gradually enlarging the gaps. 

    As for those with serious dental calculus, they may feel that their teeth gaps grow larger following a dental cleaning. Actually it’s dental calculus instead of dental cleaning that should be blamed. To avoid that, you’d better seek a dental cleaning in a timely manner if there is calculus. 

    Difference between orthodontics and dental veneer

    Both techniques can be applied to narrow teeth gaps, depending on how severe your condition is. Comparatively, dental veneer is appropriate only for single tooth gap and may be failed in restoring excessively large gaps. In terms of material, veneer can be divided into two categories, porcelain and resin veneer, among which the porcelain one performs better in aesthetics. When it comes to service life, it’s closely linked with your daily maintenance. With good care, a service life of over 10 years is not a problem at all.  

    In cases of several large gaps, you do not need to seek other approaches than orthodontics. To avoid bouncing back, it’s necessary to wear braces for one or two years, followed by wearing retainers for half an year. 

    To conclude, dental veneer is a good choice for single large gap between incisors, while orthodontics should be sought to deal with several large gaps. 

    Feel free to contact me if there’s any dental problem. (WeChat ID: aiyuan325180)