Do I Really Need a Full Set of Braces?

Long Beach, CA – One of the most common orthodontic issues we see is spacing, or gaps between the teeth. The majority of patients are most concerned when the space occurs between the top front teeth, but spacing can occur anywhere in the mouth. Let’s take a closer look at spacing and how it can be corrected.

Spacing can result from several causes. Some of the most common are:

• Thumb sucking or extended pacifier use – This can force the teeth forward and push the tongue up against the teeth, which can result in gaps.
• Small teeth – Teeth that are small in proportion to the jawbone can cause other teeth to spread out, resulting in gaps in the smile.
• Gum disease – Severe gum disease can result in loss of bone, allowing the teeth to drift, leaving spaces between teeth.
• Tongue thrust – Similar to thumb sucking and pacifier use, tongue thrusting causes the tongue to push the teeth forward, which can result in problems in spacing.
• Enlarged frenulum – The frenulum is the piece of soft tissue between your top front teeth. If it is too large, it can cause the teeth to space out from each other, resulting in a diastema.

You may not think your spacing is much of an issue, and it might not be – at least not at first. But over time, if your spacing has resulted in a bite that’s not properly aligned, it can create a host of problems. A misaligned bite will mean an uneven amount of pressure is being placed when you bite down, which can lead to teeth cracking, chipping or breaking.

So, if treatment is indicated, does that mean you need a full set of braces or Invisalign just to correct a small space?

The answer to that is yes. That is because orthodontic treatment isn’t about just improving cosmetics. It’s about correcting the overall health and function of your smile. To do that, we need to look at the entire mouth and not just the gap. When we move any teeth in the mouth, it affects everything – the rest of your teeth, the function of your bite, even the tissues of your mouth.

If we close one gap in your mouth without correcting the entire smile, it is safe to assume that we are simply opening another gap somewhere else in your smile. For instance, if you have a diastema between your upper front teeth, and we only focus on closing that gap by moving those two teeth together, what happens on the other sides of those teeth? We have opened two additional gaps that will then need to be addressed. For this reason, braces or Invisalign need to be used on all upper teeth to consolidate them in order to close all the spaces.

If you have spacing, it is important to have a consultation with a board certified orthodontist to determine the best course of action to correct it. By examining your entire mouth, including using digital images and X-rays, we can see how the spacing has affected your smile, and create a treatment plan that will correct those issues.

If you have a gap in your smile and are interested in orthodontic treatment to correct it, call our office today to set up your complimentary consultation – 562-283-6590.