Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a wide gap between your two front teeth? Celebrities like Anna Paquin and Jack Black have made tooth gaps more accepted, but if yours still makes you feel uncomfortable, then it's worth your while to reach out to your dentist and have something done about it. Here's a look at some of the methods your dentist may use to close your tooth gap, leaving you with the attractive smile you've always dreamed of.
Invisalign
If your teeth only have to be shifted to the side (and not up or down in your jaw) to close your tooth gap, then your dentist may recommend wearing Invisalign. This is a system of clear plastic trays that snap into place over your teeth. You wear them for 20 to 22 hours per day, taking them out to eat and to brush your teeth. Every few weeks, you'll get a new aligner, and before you know it, your teeth will be in their proper places. Invisalign is nearly invisible -- others will only be able to see it on your teeth if they look very closely. If you're only trying to close your top tooth gap and your lower teeth are aligned relatively well already, you will probably only need to wear an aligner on the top. Your dentist can evaluate your smile and let you know for sure.
Braces
If your front teeth need to be rotated or pushed up or down at all, your dentist may recommend traditional braces over Invisalign. You may need braces only on your two front teeth, or you may need them on your entire upper jaw -- it will depend on your unique tooth alignment. Wearing braces is not as bad as you might imagine. Today, there are ceramic braces that are a lot less visible than metal braces. Remedies like wax and numbing gel can take care of the soreness you may experience. Chances are, if you're only trying to close a tooth gap, you'll only need to wear them for a few months.
Rubber Bands
If your tooth gap is small and it truly is only your two front teeth that need to be shifted slightly, your dentist may fix your smile with special rubber bands placed around the two front teeth. These rubber bands will be gradually made tighter to draw the teeth closer together over a period of several weeks to several months. Clear bands can be used so they're less obvious. Do not attempt to use rubber bands you have at home to do the same thing. They need to be just the right tightness and placed in just the right manner to avoid complications like damage to the tooth roots and overlapping teeth.
Talk to a company like Janzen Janzen & Chwa Orthodontics Ltd with any questions you have about closing your tooth gap.
Share2 June 2016
