The gaps between your teeth, caused by nature or lost teeth, carry aesthetic and functional implications in your smile. While some embrace the gap-toothed look, others like to fill them up in a quest for aestheticism or to enhance oral health. Here, we walk you through how to fill gaps in teeth, with consideration of their options, costs, and procedures involved, so you can end up having that smile you wanted.
Understanding How to Fill Gaps in Teeth: What are your options?
Whether you have small, aesthetic gaps between your teeth or bigger gaps because of missing ones, there are a lot of procedures to fill gaps in your teeth. If you are concerned about how to fill gaps in teeth, the treatment to be used will depend upon the size and location of the gap, your oral health, and your wishes. Let’s get into what is considered the most preferred technique to fill gaps between your teeth.
1. Dental Bonding: A Speedy and Cost-Effective Solution
One of the fastest and cheapest ways to fill gaps in teeth is through dental bonding. It simply means applying a tooth-coloured resin material directly to the teeth to close those unwanted gaps and enhance their aesthetics. This treatment can be especially used for small natural gaps, especially on front teeth.
How it works: Your dentist will clean and prepare your tooth, applying the bonding material. The resin is then shaped to fit the natural contours of your tooth and hardened with a special light. The result is a smooth, gap-free tooth that blends seamlessly with your natural smile.
Benefits: Dental bonding is not only a quick procedure but also relatively inexpensive compared to other methods. It usually takes one office visit, making it a convenient choice for those seeking a quick fix. It is also ideal for minor cosmetic gaps that do not require extensive treatment.
Considerations: Although bonding is a fantastic solution for many, it’s not as durable as crowns or veneers for many. The bonding materials will stain with time and must be redone.
2. Invisalign: Straighten Your Smile and Close Gaps
If your teeth are crooked, Invisalign is an excellent method to both align your teeth and close gaps. This treatment is for people who want to improve their overall dental alignment besides filling in specific gaps.
How it works: Treatment starts with a consultation in which your dentist will design a personalized aligner plan. Each set of aligners is worn for about 22 hours a day for 1-2 weeks before moving to the next set. Your teeth will gradually shift, close gaps, and correct misalignments.
Benefits: Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible, making them a discreet option for adults or teens who want to avoid traditional braces. They are also removable, which allows you to eat and clean your teeth with ease.
Considerations: While Invisalign is highly effective, it requires discipline to wear the aligners for the recommended amount of time each day. Treatment can also take several months, depending on the severity of the gaps.
3. Porcelain Veneers: The Long-Term and Aesthetic Solution
Porcelain veneers are the best for a long-term and aesthetically pleasing option. Veneers are thin shells made of durable porcelain that are bonded to the front of your teeth, effectively closing gaps and improving their shape and color.
How it works: To prepare for veneers, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to ensure a secure fit. Impressions of your teeth are then sent to the lab for creating custom veneers. Once completed, the veneers are bonded to your teeth and that instantly transforms the smile.
Benefits: Veneers are very durable and can last for many years if properly cared for. They also provide a natural, polished look and are resistant to staining. If you have multiple gaps or other dental imperfections, veneers can give you a complete smile makeover.
Factors: Porcelain veneers are a more expensive procedure as compared to other treatments. These are not reversible treatments either since they require the enamel to be removed. On the other hand, these prove to be a good permanent solution for many people who prefer these.
4. Dental Crowns: Ideal for Widened Gaps or Cracked Teeth
Crowns are an ideal solution if the gaps are wide and result from cracked or rotten teeth. Crowns are caps that completely cover the entire tooth, giving it back its full size and shape, thereby filling the gaps.
Functioning process: If a tooth is severely chipped away or is missing, an implant or a crown covers the remaining tooth. Available for making crowns are metals, ceramics, and porcelains, of which porcelains are the ones appearing in an especially real colour.
Advantages: The crowns are very potent and long-lasting to fix openings, especially in situations where the teeth have highly experienced severe erosion of wear, cracks, and breakage.
Considerations: Crowns are more invasive than options like dental bonding, as they require reshaping of the tooth or placement on an implant. They also tend to be pricey.
5. Dental Implants: A Permanent Solution to Missing Teeth and Fill Gaps in Teeth
A dental implant is the most permanent and secure solution for gaps caused by missing teeth. It is a man-made root or post-surgically placed in the jaw that serves as the root of a missing tooth. After stabilization, an implant is then capped by placing a crown on it for restoration. After the healing process, a crown is attached to fill the gap.
How it works: The process for the implant procedure includes embedding the titanium post in the jawbone, where it fuses over time with the bone (a process referred to as osseointegration). Once the implant has stabilized, a crown can be attached to complete the restoration.
Advantages: Implants appear, feel, and act like natural teeth. This is a permanent and highly durable solution. They also help to maintain the bone structure in the jaw that would otherwise suffer from loss due to missing teeth.
Disadvantages: Implants are the most expensive option. The healing time is relatively long. Not everyone can have implants, as one needs sufficient bone density to anchor the implant properly.
6. How Much Does It Cost to Fill Gaps in Teeth?
The cost of filling gaps in teeth depends on the treatment chosen. Below are the estimated costs for various tooth gap-filling options:
- Composite Bonding:
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- GC Strong Composite: £95
- Digital CAD/CAM Composite Bonding: £210
- Laminated e.Max: £590
- Luminated e.Max: £240
- CAD/CAM Gum Line: £150
These are general estimates. Please note that the cost will depend on your dental needs, so it’s better to get a more precise quote from your dentist.
7. How to Fill in Gaps Between Teeth: More Options
Besides the treatments mentioned above, other forms of filling gaps in teeth are used in combination with the ones above. The latter include orthodontic treatment such as braces, among others, and dental bridges to fill in the large spaces between the teeth, especially due to missing teeth.
Final Thought
Whether you have small gaps or more prominent gaps between your teeth, the treatments are available to make your smile perfect. These treatments include affordable dental bonding and permanent dental implants. They each have their merits and disadvantages, so discussion with your dental professional and determination of the appropriate treatment for your goal is very important.
At DentaFLY, we offer a variety of treatments to help you find how to fill gaps in teeth and enhance the appearance of your smile. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a gap-free smile!
