Gaps in teeth are common, but significant space between front teeth can attract unwanted attention, make eating and speaking more difficult, and impact your self-confidence. Luckily, a qualified cosmetic dentist can close a large gap, or diastema, between the teeth.
Are you looking for a skilled cosmetic dentist in Albuquerque, NM, to close a diastema? You’re in luck! At Desert Oasis Dental, Dr. Tran has years of training and experience helping patients reduce the space between teeth with effective cosmetic solutions.
What causes a diastema?
Dental professionals classify the space between teeth as a diastema if the gap is 0.5 mm or larger. This gap can result for several reasons, such as:
- A patient’s teeth are too small for their jawbone structure
- The tissue extending from the upper lip to the upper gums, or labial frenum, is too large
- Gum disease causes the teeth to move away from each other
- Tongue thrusting and thumb sucking move teeth outward and away from each other
Research indicates that nearly half of all children between the ages of six and eight years old have diastemas. These gaps develop as children begin to lose their baby teeth in exchange for their permanent teeth.
Typically, these gaps will go away as children’s permanent incisors come in. However, some patients end up with a lasting diastema that may require dental intervention.
Is closing a diastema medically necessary?
For many patients, closing a diastema is a purely cosmetic choice but some patients experience difficulty biting and chewing with large gaps in their front teeth. As a result, these patients notice that the gum tissue between gapped teeth frequently becomes irritated, sensitive, and bloody.
Other patients dislike the way that diastemas affect their speech patterns. Subsequently, they seek diastema closure treatments to prevent unwanted lisping or whistling while talking.
How can a cosmetic dentist close a diastema?
At Desert Oasis Dental, our patients have several options to close a diastema, including:
- Dental Bonding
- Dental Veneers
- Clear Aligners
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding uses a strong composite resin material to change the shape of adjacent teeth. By adding bonding material to the sides of the teeth, Dr. Tran can effectively reduce the space between teeth and close a diastema.
Dental Veneers
Porcelain dental veneers are very thin shells of porcelain that Dr. Tran can cement to the front surface of the teeth. Dental veneers discreetly cover large gaps in the teeth, making them a popular diastema closure treatment.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that many patients with gapped teeth seek. These clear aligners are far less noticeable than traditional metal braces, and most patients can close large gaps in their teeth in as few as six to 18 months.
Can I prevent a diastema from developing?
For some patients, a diastema is an unavoidable genetic development. For others, a change in harmful habits or behaviors can prevent large gaps in the front teeth. Dr. Tran recommends:
- Discouraging or avoiding thumb sucking
- Seeking therapy to address tongue thrusting while swallowing
- Practicing proper oral hygiene on a daily basis to avoid gum disease
- Visiting our Albuquerque dental office every six months for routine dental exams and cleanings
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Diastema Closure Treatments
Are you ready to discuss diastema closure treatment options with a qualified Albuquerque dentist? If so, then don’t wait for a second longer–schedule a consultation with Desert Oasis Dental now.
New and existing patients can easily call our office at 505.821.8726.