A gap between teeth can affect the appearance of a smile. Spaces between teeth are known as diastemas. Even though some people prefer to keep the spaces as they are, others opt for treatment in order to eliminate the problem using clear aligners.
Since aligners are clear, patients can solve their spacing problems without affecting their professional or social appearance.
What Causes Gaps in Teeth?
There are several reasons why gaps occur between the teeth. There can be a gap in the front teeth that has been there since childhood, while other gaps occur later in life.
Some of the gaps are formed due to uneven development of teeth compared to the jaw. In some cases, a gap between the upper front teeth may be associated with a prominent or unusually positioned labial frenum.
The labial frenum is a part of tissue that is attached to the upper lip from inside the mouth, near the front teeth. This tissue can either be too low or too thick to allow the front teeth to line up properly.
How Clear Aligner Therapy Closes Gaps
Spacing problems can be corrected through clear aligner therapy, which comprises customized plastic aligners that snugly fit over the patient’s teeth. The patient is provided with a set of aligners that help move the teeth into the right position. These aligners apply controlled pressure on the teeth.
This continuous pressure signals the surrounding bone to remodel, slowly moving teeth across the jaw. Patients swap out their current trays for a new set every one to two weeks. Over time, these small shifts bring separated teeth right next to each other.
Are All Gaps Treatable?
Clear aligners can close many types of spaces between teeth; however, it is not a universal treatment that works equally well for everyone. The size of the space and its location, as well as the position of the neighboring teeth, can play an important role in determining the treatment process.
Space closure using clear aligners is possible in many instances where there is spacing in the dentition. However, it does not apply to everybody, as the size and location of the space, along with the alignment of the neighboring teeth, can impact the treatment process.
Space caused by the absence of a tooth or a large space will require a different treatment process. An orthodontic evaluation will help determine the main cause of the spacing and a suitable treatment plan to address it.
Maintaining Your Results
Once the aligners move all teeth into their proper positions, the active phase ends. However, teeth naturally try to drift back toward their old locations. The jawbone needs time to solidify around the new root positions.
Wearing a custom retainer prevents teeth from shifting back open. Most patients wear retainers full-time for a few months before transitioning to night-only wear. Sticking to this maintenance routine preserves your newly closed gap for a lifetime.
A Clearer Path to a More Even Smile
One of the advantages of clear aligners is that they provide a very effective treatment method for closing gaps between the teeth. With the help of clear aligners, people can enjoy a straight smile without using metal braces.
For the best consultation, contact our skilled and professional staff at Evolve Orthodontics. Give us a call at (281) 247-5074.