When Is a Gapped Tooth a Problem?

You are about to leave the house. You stop to check your look in the mirror. Your new outfit looks great and you’re thrilled with the cut and color you just got from your favorite stylist, but your enthusiasm wanes at your smile. Your gapped teeth do a number on your confidence.

If this scenario is all too familiar, you are not alone. Up to about 25% of all adults, regardless of age and ethnicity, have gapped teeth. In this blog, the highly skilled team at Duval Orthodontics explains the causes of gapped teeth and what you can do to fix them.

Gapped teeth explained

Gapped teeth are an extra space in between teeth, sometimes called by its clinical term, diastema. Gapped teeth can develop in both children and adults and can occur anywhere in the mouth. The most common place for gapped teeth is between the two front teeth, a condition called midline diastema. 

For many younger patients, the gap is temporary and closes over time as their permanent teeth come in and their mouth and jaws mature. For many patients with gapped teeth, the issue is cosmetic. However, there are some instances where gapped teeth may impact your oral and overall health.

Causes of gapped teeth

The best way to understand how gapped teeth can lead to oral health issues is to look at why gapped teeth happen in the first place. Often, gaps are simply because of missing teeth, or oddly sized teeth compared to neighboring teeth. Other causes include: 

• Connective tissue that blocks gap closure: The labial frenum is a band of connective tissue that extends from the gumline above the front teeth to the inside of the upper lip. Sometimes this tissue grows to where it passes between the two front teeth and prevents the teeth from moving closer to each other.
• Abnormal swallowing reflex: During normal swallowing, your tongue naturally presses against the roof of your mouth. In contrast, if you press your tongue against your front teeth when you swallow, you push your teeth forward. This repetitive force over time can cause extra space to form.
• Bad habits: Bad habits like thumb sucking can pull teeth forward, which can trigger the formation of gaps. 

Gapped teeth can be a symptom of gum disease

Sometimes gaps between teeth may be a sign of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Gum disease is an inflammation of gum tissue that plays out in stages and ranks as the leading cause of tooth loss for adults. But that’s not all. The health implications of untreated gum disease go well beyond your oral health.

In the early stages of gum disease, plaque build-up creates a perfect storm for bacteria and toxins to get together and create an infection. If untreated, the infection can progress to where it causes bone loss that not only leads to extra space between teeth but can also cause teeth to become loose.

In the advanced stages of gum disease, the underlying infection may spread to other areas of your mouth or other parts of your body, putting you at risk for developing serious medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or stroke.  

Orthodontic treatment can fix gapped teeth

If your gapped teeth result from gum disease, your dental provider typically tackles the gum disease before addressing the gap. Depending on the severity of your gum disease, orthodontic treatment may be delayed so that your provider can treat your gum disease and eliminate the underlying infection. 

Here at Duval Orthodontics, we begin our orthodontic treatment journey with a consultation. Think of the consultation as a high-tech examination and an opportunity to envision your dream smile rolled into one appointment. 

During your consultation, Dr. Duval captures 3-D real-time impressions of your mouth and teeth using a handheld device called an intraoral scanner. The scanner provides data on teeth and bites, which your orthodontist uses to assess alignment issues and gaps between teeth. 

Dr. Duval then asks questions about your smile goals, preferences, and budget. He evaluates all the information and creates a treatment plan to meet your unique needs and preferences.

We offer a wide variety of orthodontic treatment options using varied materials and colors for children’s braces, and adult braces, as well as clear braces and Invisalign® clear aligners.

If you or your child has gaps between teeth, and want to learn more about orthodontic treatment, call Duval Orthodontics for an evaluation by contacting the office in Warner Robins or Albany, Georgia, or book an appointment online.