What to Do About a Gap Between Your Front Teeth

A gap between two teeth — medically called diastema — most commonly results from the mismatch of the size of the teeth and the half-circle known as the dental arch. Lasting repair requires fixing the problem that causes the gap.

A gap between two adjacent teeth, known as diastema, often is the result of having Mama's teeth and Daddy's arches, as dentist Dr. Paul Chalifoux told an interviewer.

In some cases, the problem is pressure from the labial frenum, a belt of tissue that connects the gums and the upper lip. The tissue pulls too hard and eventually the front teeth separate. When this is the source of the problem, there's an easy treatment. Just snip the extra tissue. Your teeth will still need help to return to their normal spacing, however.

And in other cases, the problem is a bad habit. Some people thrust the tongue upward when they swallow. This motion can generate enough pressure on the teeth to create a gap, especially when the bone has been damaged by gum disease. Whenever the bone is week, there is potential for the teeth to move.

So what can you do about gaps between your teeth?

The fast solution for a gap between your teeth is the application of a dental veneer. The dentist simply applies new enamel with a bonding agent directly to the affected teeth, and within minutes the gap disappears.

This treatment is OK if:

• There is no area of tooth decay at the site of the repair.

• The veneer is applied at a gentle angle so it will not tend to sheer off the teeth.

• There is still a tiny gap between the teeth after the procedure so they can be flossed.

How well a veneer works depends on the dentist's or dental technician's skill. Touch up work may be necessary every few years. Teeth bonding, in which composite resin is used to eliminate a gap between the teeth by filling it in, is another option that has become more popular in recent years. Both procedures do damage the natural teeth to some extent, so each candidate has to consider whether the option is worth the proverbial cost.

Sometimes dentists treat gaps between teeth with braces. This is a long-term procedure that takes months or even years to work. During that time, it is necessary to wear a retainer to hold the braces in place.

And if problems with bruxism (grinding teeth) are not addressed, the retainer may move so much that the braces become useless.

The best way to close teeth may be for the dentist to use both veneers and braces. And if your smile is important to you and neither braces nor veneers works, ask about partial dentures with loop connections that gradually train your teeth to assume an aesthetically desirable position.

Or maybe you will decide that your gapped teeth is your calling card. At one time only the model Lauren Hutton was famous for the gap between her teeth, but now many leaders in fashion have chosen not to have their gapped teeth repaired.

It is true that your teeth affect many aspects of your life that those with "perfect smiles" may never be aware of — including employment opportunities and dating. However, healthy, strong, and functional teeth should always take precedence over the wish to achieve a perfect smile, and it is important not to undertake procedures that damage your healthy teeth.

If in doubt, you may wish to consult a regular dentist as well as a cosmetic dentist, and weigh all your options before making a decision.