If you have a gap in your smile, it might make you self-conscious. There’s really no way to hide it–it’s right in front of your mouth, and it shows itself every time you talk, laugh, eat, or smile.
Fortunately, if you’ve decided that you want to close the gap in your smile, we have options. But make sure you’re happy with that decision first.
Is Your Gap Really so Bad?
We understand that having a gap in your smile can really sap your confidence. It can make you feel that you have an unattractive or juvenile smile. So you want to get rid of it.
But before you do, consider that maybe you should actually save the gap. A smile gap is a very distinctive feature in a smile, and it can convey a lot of personality. If you can embrace your smile gap, it will help you maintain the personality of your smile. It can become an important part of your identity. In fact, it might already be part of your identity--more so than you appreciate. If that’s the case, you might find yourself regretting the decision, and it’s very hard to reverse once we’ve come up with a solution.
But if you’re sure, then we have options to solve the problem.
Option 1: Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a composite material (plastic and ceramic) that we use most often as tooth-colored fillings. It can be used to reshape the teeth on either side of the gap to close the gap.
Pros: Inexpensive--this is a fraction of the cost of other options. Fast--it can be completed in a single visit.
Cons: Because dental bonding just reshapes the teeth on either side of the gap, it just makes them bigger, which can cause another problem: too wide central incisors. Plus, it’s less durable than other options. It will last only a few years at the most, and may be damaged or discolored before that.
Option 2: Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are facades of advanced ceramic that can be bonded to the front of your teeth to extend them into the gap, similar to the method used with bonding.
Pros: Very attractive: has the color and luster of natural teeth. These are very durable, lasting 10 years or more in most cases. While veneers are reshaping your teeth, we can use multiple veneers to reshape your neighboring teeth, too, to better reproportion your smile so your central incisors aren’t too wide. These are also fast, though it takes a couple visits.
Cons: Veneers can be expensive, and they aren’t covered by insurance at all. While they can reproportion your teeth, they are limited in what they can do, so they might still make teeth look too large in some cases.
Option 3: Invisalign
Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners to gently move your teeth to their desired position, closing the gap in your smile.
Pros: Uses your natural teeth, so if you like their proportions, you can maintain them. Can move other teeth at the same time, straightening your whole smile. Clear plastic aligners mean no one has to know.
Cons: It takes time. With Invisalign it can take several months to move your teeth into position. You are stuck with your natural teeth, so if you don’t like the way they look, you might not be happy with the results. Plus, Invisalign can also be expensive.
What Is the Right Option for Your Smile Gap?
Are you considering closing a gap in your smile? Not sure what’s the best way to do it for your smile? Consult with a cosmetic dentist to find the solution. If you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist in the Columbus Circle area, please call (212) 557-8668 today for an appointment with Dr. Karthilde Appolon.
