The dangers of excessive gaps between teeth

beautiful

The gaps between teeth are often particularly obvious when smiling, as if they are black dividing lines that separate the originally neat and white teeth. This phenomenon, for many people, has become a stumbling block to showing a bright smile. They are afraid of being seen with imperfections between their teeth and worried about being laughed at or commented on by others, so they often suppress their smiles when laughing, or even avoid showing their teeth altogether. In addition, some patients are also worried that excessively large gaps between teeth may cause saliva to splash out from between the teeth, causing embarrassment when communicating with others. Therefore, they have to pay extra attention to their lip closing movements for fear of being discovered by others.

periodontal health

Excessive tooth gaps not only affect the appearance, but also pose a serious threat to oral health. When the gap between teeth is too large, the teeth on both sides can easily lose support and become crooked, tilted, or elongated. This misalignment will not only cause food to become lodged between the teeth, making it difficult to clean, but will also irritate the gums and cause inflammation. Over the long term, the alveolar bones on both sides of the tooth gap may gradually shrink, destroying the stability of the teeth, which may eventually lead to loosening of the teeth, seriously affecting chewing function. This not only affects the patient's daily life, but may further aggravate oral problems and make treatment more difficult.

Causes of excessive gaps between teeth

Abnormal number of teeth (premature loss of deciduous teeth, missing permanent teeth)

During the teething period, when deciduous teeth and permanent teeth coexist, the gap between the teeth is too large due to early loss of the deciduous teeth or late eruption of the permanent teeth; or the gap between the teeth is too wide due to normal development of the jaw bone and congenital missing teeth in the mouth. If supernumerary teeth grow, it will also affect the growth and position of normal teeth.

Abnormal tooth morphology (inconsistent tooth size)

The jaw bone morphology develops normally, but the gaps between the teeth are too large due to small teeth.

Periodontal disease (caries, gum recession)

Long-term dental calculus and bacterial plaque adhere to the tooth surface, which will cause an inflammatory reaction in the tissues around the teeth, eventually leading to the recession of the alveolar bone and gums, and the gradual loosening of the teeth. Patients with periodontal disease are prone to various abnormal tooth movements due to loose teeth.

bad habit

Children's long-term habits of sticking out their tongue, biting their lower lip, and biting their fingers may lead to protruding teeth and scattered gaps.

Solutions to excessive gaps between teeth

Situations vary

Depending on the size of the tooth gap and the age of the patient, the time, cost, and method required to wear braces vary. For specific braces, it is recommended to go to a local hospital to take pictures and have an interview with a doctor.

bad habit

If the gap between teeth is caused by muscle dysfunction in children such as lip biting, finger biting, mouth breathing, etc., you can change the child's bad habits and exercise muscle function to close the abnormal gap during the tooth replacement process.

Dental implant-veneer restoration

If the orthodontist and prosthodontist conduct a consultation together and comprehensively analyze the patient's facial appearance, tooth arrangement, and occlusal relationship, it can be determined that the best solution is to implant the missing teeth or repair the teeth that are too small with veneers. Usually, it is necessary to first Correction, lay a solid foundation for later repair, and then carry out implantation and veneer repair,

Orthodontics after periodontal treatment

If periodontal disease is the cause of tooth space, periodontal treatment should be performed immediately. Through systematic periodontal treatment, the progression of periodontal disease can be controlled, the teeth can be re-stabilized, and the gums and alveolar bones can be restored to health. After that, if the patient's periodontal condition can meet the requirements of orthodontics, the gap will be closed through orthodontics to create normal adjacency between the teeth.