Mind the Gap: Treatment Options for Spacing Issues
We have helped many patients throughout Honolulu smile with renewed confidence. Our team understands that people face many kinds of dental health issues, which is why we approach each patient's problems from different angles. Sometimes cosmetic dentistry procedures make give the smile the makeover it needs, while other times a patient need restorative approaches to dental care.
When it comes to tooth gaps and spacing problems, dentists have a number of options to consider for treatment.
The Problems Associated with Tooth Gaps
Tooth gaps can pose a number of different problems. Broadly, these issues tend to affect a person's dental health and the person's smile aesthetics.
In terms of dental health, tooth gaps and spacing issues can cause a host of issues. When teeth are poorly spaced, this can make biting and chewing more difficult. The issues with misalignment can also cause or contribute to teeth grinding (bruxism). If the tooth gap is the result of a missing tooth, patients may need to worry about the teeth adjacent to the gap shifting out of place as well as the potential for bone loss and gum recession.
As far as dental aesthetics goes, tooth gaps can be the source of serious self-consciousness. This is particularly true when the gaps are around the most prominent teeth.
Dental Bonding for Minor Spaces
For very minor cosmetic spacing issues, one of the ideal solutions to consider is dental bonding. Dental bonding uses special tooth-colored resins to build out tooth structure and reduce the appearance of spaces and gaps.
Porcelain Veneers for Aesthetic Spacing Issues
For more serious spaces and gaps that are still predominantly cosmetic in nature, porcelain veneers may be an excellent treatment to consider. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that fit over the fronts of teeth in order to mask problems from view. Since veneers are semi-transluscent, it is difficult to distinguish a tooth with a veneer from a pristine and perfect tooth without one.
Orthodontic Treatment for Major Malocclusion
For serious spacing issues that also impact dental health, orthodontic care is the most ideal solution to consider. Whether the treatment involves traditional braces, modern invisible braces options, or more advanced therapies, the primary goal will be to achieve a healthier and more harmonious dental alignment.
Options for Gaps Left by Missing Teeth
If you have lost a tooth or a few teeth and that is the reason you have gaps between your teeth, there are a number of options to consider for treatment. Dental bridges tend to be idea for a missing tooth or a few missing teeth. Major tooth loss can often be addressed with a denture. In some cases, dental implants may be considered to support a crown, a bridge, or a denture.
Developing a Treatment Plan Just for You
There's never a one-size-fits-all way to address a dental problem. Patients who come to our practice will receive fully customized care that takes into account dental health as well as smile aesthetics.
During a consultation, we will go over all of your treatment options, including the various pros and cons involved. We want to make sure all of our patients are confident in their treatment choices as well as our ability to restore the healthy and beauty of their smile.
Learn More About Your Dental Treatment Options
For more information about orthodontic care, cosmetic solutions, and other ways that we can enhance the health and beauty of your smile, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice today. The team at our practice looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters in greater detail.