Can I Use Invisalign to Fix Gap Teeth? - Pavlo Orthodontics

What is an aesthetic smile? In short, it means having all teeth aligned. Yet, teeth might get stained or discolored or have chips and little cracks that make them look uneven. So, when it comes to defining what an aesthetic smile is, it means having teeth aligned, complete, and that have an even clear shade.

But even some rock stars or celebrities have had crooked teeth at some point. And one of the most common malocclusion problems is spaced teeth. You might not believe it, but having a space between front teeth is common, and it occurs due to genetics or bad habits.

The good news is that you do not have to be a rock star or a celebrity to eliminate that annoying space between your teeth. Factually, the best option to eliminate teeth spacing is orthodontic treatment with traditional braces or clear aligners, and the most advantageous orthodontic system available in the market today is Invisalign.

Here we will talk about spaced teeth, their causes, and solutions and give you a broad idea of them, focusing on aesthetics. Moreover, this educating article will respond to the question, are spaced front teeth good or bad?

What is Diastema?

Diastema is the clinical term for spaced teeth. A gap between teeth can appear but is quite evident between the front teeth. In most cases, diastema does not represent a problem affecting the functionality of the bite and represents only a cosmetic concern.

Diastema occurs due to genetics, having undersized teeth, and bad habits. Furthermore, the most worrying cause of diastema is periodontitis. Poor oral hygiene habits create the perfect habitat for bacteria to accumulate between teeth and gums.

Periodontitis causes gums recession, which makes teeth look longer. Also, dental plaque and calculus wear off the tooth’s roots, forming a space between them. Finally, periodontitis destroys the periodontal ligament and gums and produces bone loss which is the teeth-supporting structure making teeth splay.

So despite the fact that the incidence of diastema in the bite functionality is null, it might become a concern if caused by a periodontal infection.

Do Bad Habits Produce Gaps Between Teeth?

Yes, bad habits are a concerning cause that produces diastema. Diastema can occur naturally in baby teeth; these; these gaps close when adult teeth erupt. However, kids might develop habits like tongue thrusting and thumb sucking that extend in time, affecting the normal development of permanent teeth. Here we list some of these habits and how to prevent them:

Tongue Thrusting

Sometimes kids repeatedly press their tongue against the palate, which is the roof of the mouth. Tonge thrusting is an abnormal swallowing reflex. When a kid exerts constant pressure against the frontal teeth repeatedly, it becomes a habit that can affect the front teeth producing any of the following malocclusion cases:

• Open bite,
• Overbite or buck teeth or,
• Diastema.

Tongue thrusting might develop at an early age and extend to adulthood. In most cases, tongue thrusting treatment options to eliminate the occurrence of malocclusion requires using a device named tongue crib placed on the roof of the mouth. Treatment might also include orofacial myology or open bite therapy that could help naturally reduce tongue thrusting.

Thumb Sucking

Sucking the thumb is a normal and naturally occurring reflex that occurs when the unborn is in the womb and serves as a mechanism to relax and give the kid self-comfort. Thumb sucking continues with the newborn and when the baby is a toddler. However, non-nutritive sucking behavior – NNSB should not extend past year three, as it might enhance the chance of developing an open bite, overbite, or diastema.

Preventing thumb-sucking past the third year is crucial for parents to avoid developing orthodontic issues that could affect the child’s adolescence. First, identify the triggering causes to understand when and how often it occurs. Then you can use positive reinforcement and praise your kid when noticing they don’t suck on their thumb.

Parents could also use thumb-sucking deterring mechanisms like smearing the thumb with unpalatable sauce, covering the thumb with a rubber, or using gloves.

How to Fix a Gap in Your Teeth?

Luckily patients with diastema have several options for solving this cosmetic issue. In most cases, the gap is between the two upper front teeth. So, you might opt for orthodontic or cosmetic options for diastema:

Can Invisalign Close Gaps in Teeth?

Invisalign is an orthodontic slash cosmetic option to solve gapped teeth. Although an orthodontic solution for a diastema is not as immediate as it would be with resins or veneers, it is the most effective for having a permanent solution for diastema.

Invisalign is an orthodontic system that offers several benefits for patients that, include the following:

Discreteness

One of the most salient benefits of Invisalign is that it is imperceptible. So a patient with diastema will notice their teeth gap closing after using a few plastic trays, but people won’t even know you are using an orthodontic device.

Efficiency

Invisalign is the most suitable option for solving diastema in a short time. In a few words, a diastema is often a mild malocclusion, meaning using braces would be a little harsh for an often easy-to-solve problem.

Comfort

Invisalign is a snugly with your teeth system that uses state-of-the-art materials to make orthodontic treatment comfortable.

Hygiene

Invisalign trays are detachable. Patients can remove them before eating and practice their regular oral hygiene routine without hassle. Also, remember that hygiene has much to do with healthy teeth and avoiding periodontal disease.

Brackets are formidably great for complex orthodontic cases, but they make oral hygiene challenging among the cons. So, why use braces for a mild to moderate malocclusion case?

Other Cosmetic Options

There are also other options to solve diastema that are part of cosmetic dentistry, and they are:

Cosmetic Bonding

A cosmetic dentist uses a resin that matches your teeth shade and little by little shapes what we could call a bit of an extension of each tooth to close the gap between them. Cosmetic dental bonding is a simple procedure that can be performed in a single visit.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are, from a purely cosmetic standpoint, an excellent complement for orthodontic treatment with Invisalign. However, some patients recur directly to porcelain veneers before closing the gap with orthodontics. The good news, as we previously stated in this article, is that diastema, in most cases, does not affect the functionality of the bite.

With this short data and introduction, we must say we can’t deny that porcelain veneers look amazing. They are like shells with the shape of the front part of teeth, and a cosmetic dentist bonds them to the surface of each tooth.

Dental Implants

An implant is the most suitable option when a patient loses a tooth leaving a considerable gap that requires a more complex approach. An implant works with a screw implanted in the bone that helps to support an artificially shaped tooth.

Celebrities With Gap Teeth

Are there celebrities with gapped teeth? We can’t say we know of a celebrity with diastema right now, but we know some of them used to have it, and they have had beautiful work to close that gap. Here we list some of the most famous celebrities that had gapped teeth before:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• Zac Efron.
• Madonna.
• Eddie Murphy.
• Elijah Wood.
• Samuel L. Jackson.
• Anna Paquin.

Find Help to Treat Your Gap Teeth

Front-gapped teeth are not necessarily bad. You can achieve a perfectly straight smile as part of the objectives of your orthodontic treatment. So, visit Dr. Pavlo or schedule a complimentary exam and start enjoying an aesthetically beautiful smile.