By Sharon Williams
Many parents worry if their children have large gaps between their permanent teeth. The gap would be especially noticeable if it is between the upper front teeth. Despite being quite normal, most parents want to get it fixed. In this article, we will look at different options to fix gapped teeth in children.
More About Diastema
Diastema or gapped teeth can be caused:
- As a result of teeth protruding forward
- If the teeth are of normal size but in a large dental arch
- If the teeth are small in a normal sized dental arch
Treatment Options for Gapped Teeth
Based on the cause, size and location of the space between the teeth, the orthodontist will help you choose the best treatment option. Some of them include:
- Conventional or Self-Ligating Braces
These braces are the most common option that parents choose for their kids. Self-ligating braces use the bracket and wire system. The braces have brackets with clips or doors to hold the wire instead of the rubber band tie system.
There are metal and ceramic versions of these braces. However, you must ask the orthodontist which one would be the best choice for your child.
- Hidden or Lingual Braces
They are exactly the same as metal braces, but with one difference – they are on the inside of the bite. They are not visible but are equally efficient in fixing the gaps between the teeth.
You can spot the braces when your child opens his mouth but the braces are less intrusive. They are also less likely to be noticed as compared to brackets and wires on the front of the teeth.
- Clear or Ceramic Braces
Ceramic or clear braces are the same shape and size as metal braces. They have tooth-colored or clear brackets that blend in with the teeth. You can even opt for tooth-colored wires to make the braces even less noticeable.
- Invisalign
This is becoming a popular option amongst parents as well as children to fix gapped teeth or address other dental issues.
Two advantages of Invisalign are that they are practically invisible and removable. Your kid can easily remove them while eating and put them back on once done. Cleaning Invisalign braces is also very simple. Your kid won’t be conscious about having braces. At the same time, the gaps between the teeth will get fixed.
They are the most comfortable of all the braces.
- Dental Bonding
This is a simple procedure that involves the application of a tooth-colored resin material in the gap of the teeth. The resin material is shaped to look natural and it is then hardened with a special light. This helps in bonding the resin to the tooth and closes the gap.
If you notice gaps in your kid’s permanent teeth, it is better to fix it sooner than later. When you treat gapped teeth early, it will help your kid avoid other dental issues as well. Make sure they know about good dental and teeth care habits.
Author Bio: Sharon William’s day job is to handle digital marketing for Koch Orthodontics in Lawrenceville, GA. With a flair for creating compelling content that clears the clutter and connects with the audience in an instant, she writes about dental topics to educate and help her readers. She truly believes that a genuine smile can win a million hearts and talks to her readers about improving their smiles and overall dental health, as well as enhancing their overall lifestyle. In her free time, she likes to organize small meets in her neighbourhood where she brings people together to discuss various topics that she writes about.
Sharon Williams
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