Signs It's Time to Fix the Gap in Your Teeth

If you feel self-conscious about the gap between your teeth, you don’t have to cover up the problem. You're not alone if you try to hide the gap in your teeth by keeping your mouth closed when you smile.

A study found 3 in 5 people don’t like their smiles. If you’re in that group, you can do something about it. 

At Greenwich Dentistry in Greenwich, Connecticut, the father-and-son team of Dr. Mark Sutton and Dr. Sean Sutton offers a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments to correct a range of smile flaws, including gapped teeth, and help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. 

What causes teeth gaps?

The most common dental gap is between your two front teeth. Known as midline diastema, it’s often genetic. If your siblings or a parent also has a gap in their front teeth, you have your genes to thank. However, sometimes your teeth gap is due to something else. 

For example, some teeth gaps result from a swallowing reflex where you press your tongue to the back of your front teeth instead of the roof of your mouth. Gapped teeth can also be a symptom of gum disease. 

We can trace other types of diastema to small teeth, missing teeth, or a band of connective tissue that’s too big for your mouth. This connective tissue, called the frenum, links your lips to your gums.

Teeth gaps are common, and our dentists can diagnose the reason and discuss the options for closing the gap. 

Signs that it’s time to fix your teeth gap

Enhancing your confidence and self-esteem are good reasons to fix your dental gap. The team at Greenwich Dentistry wants you to enjoy your smile. If you’re hiding your smile instead, then it may be time to see us. 

Other reasons to consider fixing your teeth gap include:

• To make chewing easier; food may get stuck in the gap
• To speak more clearly; a gap may cause a whistling sound when you talk 
• To lower your risk of gum irritation due to infection
• To prevent surrounding teeth from shifting and causing misalignments or bite issues
• To help fix other orthodontic issues, such as crowded or crooked teeth

If you’re ready to fix the gap in your teeth, we have several options at Greenwich Dentistry, including veneers and Invisalign®. 

Veneers are thin porcelain shells placed on the fronts of teeth to hide imperfections, including gaps. Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that relies on a series of clear aligners to move your teeth gradually into proper position. 

If you’re ready to get started on a new smile, call the Cos Cob office of Greenwich Dentistry today.