Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg, PA
Gaps between teeth are quite common, it is a condition referred to as tooth diastema. It can develop from a variety of reasons and is something that usually requires dental treatments to correct. Fortunately, there are options in cosmetic dentistry that can close these unwanted gaps between your teeth. Let’s take a look at the causes of diastema and how your Bloomsburg cosmetic dentist can fix it.
Tooth or Jaw Misalignment
Your tooth alignment is determined by the size of your teeth and your jaw. When these two components do not match, which they often do not, teeth can become overcrowded, crooked, or spacing issues develop. If your teeth are too small for your jaw, you may develop gaps between your teeth. Also, if you have missing teeth, even a single missing tooth, teeth can begin to drift out of alignment, leaving gaps behind.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease also is referred to as gum disease. It is a chronic infection that can erode jawbone, causing you to lose teeth and alter the alignment of your bite. Caring for your teeth and gums is an essential part of keeping them looking good. Failing to maintain oral health could result in periodontal disease that leads to changes in your alignment.
Labial Frenum
The labial frenum is thin connective tissue that connects your upper lip to your gums. If this tissue is too thick, it can cause a gap between your two upper front teeth. If caught early in life, a simple frenectomy procedure may prevent these spacing issues.
Bad Habits
Certain bad habits such as sucking a pacifier or thumb as a child can affect the alignment of one’s teeth. Tongue thrusting is another issue that can cause a space between the front teeth or other alignment issues with one’s bite.
Treatment
Maybe you do not mind your tooth diastema. It may be that one quality that makes you unique, and that is ok, too. On the other hand, some people desire to fix their gap.
Here are some options:
- Cosmetic Bonding – Performed in one visit to your cosmetic dentist in Bloomsburg, this affordable procedure entails placing a composite resin over your affected teeth to close the gap. Expertly shaping and molding the material results in a natural-looking smile. The material we use is selected in a shade that matches your existing teeth so that no one else will be able to extinguish the difference.
- Veneers – A more permanent option are thin-shelled veneers that are placed on the front portion of your teeth. Like cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers are made to blend in with your other natural teeth and look completely natural.
- Crowns – Covering the entire exterior portion of your teeth, dental crowns may also be used as a means to close a gap between teeth. Generally, crowns are reserved for when a tooth has sustained extensive damage but may be an option for closing a gap between front teeth.
- ClearCorrect – For a permanent solution that does not entail altering your existing tooth structure, clear aligners from a licensed ClearCorrect dentist in Bloomsburg can be used to achieve perfectly straight teeth. ClearCorrect works just like braces do, but with less discomfort, and they are more discreet.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Bloomsburg
If you would like to learn more about how to close the gap between your teeth, contact Hamilton Dental Care by calling (570) 387-0533 to schedule a consultation and learn more about the services we offer.
Hamilton Dental Care is here to serve patients in the communities of Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg, PA.
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