For the past few years, having gaps between the teeth have become a fashion trend. Americans and Australians are going to the dentist to create a gap between their teeth. Cosmopolitan Australia has featured the news as “on-trend teeth” and shows the pictures of the fashion icons such as Madonna and Anna Paquin with their ‘perfect imperfect smile’.
If you have been thinking about creating a man-made gap between your teeth, here are a few things to consider before going through the procedure:
- With time, people with gaps between their teeth may find that the adjacent teeth will shift, resulting in crooked teeth, which is aesthetically less appealing. In addition, crooked teeth may be a food trap, causing difficulty in brushing and in the long run, causing tooth decay.
- Once your teeth are filed down (during the creation of the gap), the enamel would not grow back. When gapped front teeth are no longer the ‘in’ thing, you will incur more time and financial investment in restoring a good set of functional and natural looking teeth.
If you already have gaps between your teeth that you are seeking to close or if your teeth have become misaligned, several treatment options are available:
- Veneers: These are thin custom-made porcelain shells designed to fit discreetly over the teeth, making them indistinguishable from our natural teeth. Veneers may be used for modifying the color or position of teeth.
- Crowns: These are restorations that cover or cap teeth, restoring them to their natural size, shape, and color. Crowns are indicated when there is a need to strengthen teeth that are mechanically weakened (e.g. teeth with large cavities).
- Braces: Braces are appliances which are used to gently correct the arrangement of your teeth. Treatment with fixed braces usually takes between two to three years, although it may sometimes be shorter and longer depending on the complexity of the case.
- Invisalign: This is a series of clear, removable, virtually invisible custom-molded aligners. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and gradually moves your teeth, before being replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.
Your dentist will be in the best position to discuss the various treatment options with you and to identify the procedure that suits your dental condition and lifestyle.
If you have a choice, would you wear a beautiful smile with perfectly aligned teeth or a smile with gapped front teeth?
