If you have large spaces or gaps between your teeth, you may be looking for ways to reduce the size of the spaces. Large gaps can make the teeth look less uniform. Teeth that are straight and closely set are often considered more attractive. Nevertheless, the look of teeth with large gaps can be improved.

Here are a few dental applications that can improve the appearance of widely gapped teeth.

Braces

Braces are applied to move gapped teeth into more desirable positions. The application includes the placement of brackets, an archwire and elastic bands. The brackets are cemented to the front of the teeth, and an archwire is connected to the brackets by elastic bands. 

Some braces are self-ligating and do not require the use of elastic bands. Instead, the archwire is fed through holes in the brackets, which hold the wire in position.

Other braces are not applied to the front of the teeth. Lingual braces are applied to the lingual side of the teeth, adjacent to the tongue. 

As the archwire of the braces is adjusted, aligning pressure is applied to the gapped teeth. The pressure helps shift the teeth closer together. Once the treatment with the braces is complete, a retainer may be used to hold the once-gapped teeth in their new position.

Dental Veneers

If your teeth are gapped but you do not prefer braces to reposition them, you may be a good candidate for dental veneers. Veneers are tooth-shaped slivers of resin or porcelain. The thin devices are applied to the front of the teeth, where they conceal imperfections, such as gaps. The size of the veneers can be made a little larger than the underlying teeth to minimize the appearance of the interdental spaces. 

The dental veneers are considered permanent. Thus, the gapped teeth are corrected for a lifetime. Still, in some instances, the veneers may have to be replaced. As the gums recede with age, a space may form between each veneer and the gumline. The space may expose a portion of the tooth that is being covered by the veneer, causing the veneer to look less natural.

As the veneers conceal the gaps between the teeth, they also correct other imperfections, such as chips, cracks or discoloration. The color of the veneers can even be selected in shades that are much whiter than natural tooth enamel.

If your teeth are severely gapped, contact the office of a cosmetic dentist in your local area, such as at The Family Dentist, to schedule an appointment.