Gap Teeth / Diastema
Gap teeth is a term used to describe a space between two teeth. In the dental world, this is referred to as a diastema. There is no minimum space required between teeth, for it to be considered a diastema. While these gaps can occur between any teeth, it most commonly occurs between the top teeth.
How Can Porcelain Veneers Help?
While there are a few options to close the space or gap between gap teeth, we will focus on using porcelain veneers to close the gap. While orthodontic treatment using traditional metal braces or newer technologies such as Invisalign clear aligner trays, dental veneers offer some advantages that braces do not.
Braces or aligner trays that move or shift teeth into place, can effectively close gaps between teeth. However the treatment time required for this method may be as little as 6 months or more than 1 year. Severe cases may take longer than 1 year.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers allow you to close the gap between teeth much quicker than using braces to move or shift teeth into place. Depending on the amount of gaps between teeth, treatment can be completed in one week or even less.
In addition to faster treatment times, porcelain veneers also can allow you to have whiter teeth, by choosing a whiter shade for the veneer. Porcelain veneers also allow you to change the size and shape of the tooth, to enhance your smile line, if needed.
One disadvantage of porcelain veneers is that a small portion of the tooth, needs to be removed, in order for the porcelain veneer to fit and adhere to.
What Does Treatment Involve?
Porcelain veneers are a thin, tooth shaped shell, that are placed on top of your teeth.
Your dentist will discuss the shade of your porcelain veneer with you before it is made. A shade is chosen that matches the rest of your smile, for a natural look.
Before the dental veneer is permanently secured to your teeth, your dentist will first have to remove a small portion of your existing tooth material. This is necessary for the porcelain veneer to cover the tooth and have a surface for the veneer to be secured to the tooth.
If you have a diastema or any spaces or gaps between your teeth, that you would like closed. Contact us for treatment options.
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