Gaps Between Teeth

Modesto, Manteca, Ceres, Turlock, Salida, Ripon, California Dentist

For some—supermodels, singers, late-night talk-show hosts—gaps between teeth can be fashionable. For others, they can be a distraction and even cause embarrassment.

Causes of Gaps Between Teeth

The causes for gaps between teeth, also known as diastemas, are usually hereditary. In most cases, the jaw is too large for your teeth, causing them to spread and creating spaces between the teeth.

Gaps between teeth may also be related to the overdevelopment of gum tissue in the upper-lip area between the gum line and your two foremost front teeth, which forces a space between those teeth. Another common cause is the underdevelopment of the lateral incisors (the teeth on either side of the upper two front teeth), which leaves additional space between neighboring teeth and results in other teeth shifting to fill those gaps.

A consultation with one of the knowledgeable Modesto dentists at Sierra Dental Care can diagnose the cause and devise a solution for your gap teeth that will leave you smiling with confidence.

Treatment Options for Gaps Between Teeth

Tooth bonding, also referred to as dental bonding, consists of applying a dental resin to the teeth. The resin is tooth-colored, and your experienced Modesto dentist sculpts it to fill your gap while allowing you to maintain the appearance of natural teeth. Dental bonding is typically better suited to small gaps.

If the gaps between your teeth are larger or if several teeth need to be treated to renew your smile, Lumineers are an option. Lumineers are custom-fit pieces of porcelain that are affixed to the front of your teeth with dental cement. Like tooth bonding, Lumineers can fill gaps while providing you with a vibrant, natural-looking smile.

For severe gaps between teeth or to correct multiple gaps, orthodontics such as braces may be necessary. Braces provide not only an aesthetic fix for gap teeth, but can also correct related bite conditions.

If you have gaps between your teeth and would like to schedule an appointment to review treatment options, please contact the experienced Modesto dentists at Sierra Dental Care. Sierra Dental Care provides quality general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to patients in the Modesto, Ripon, Ceres, Salida, Turlock, and Manteca, California, areas.