Gaps can make your smile look unhealthy, unbalanced and unattractive, but if you don’t have perfectly positioned teeth, there is no need to panic. We have a host of treatment options available to close, cover or reduce gaps in your teeth to create a beautiful smile and a more confident you.
Treatment options for a gappy smile
If you have a missing tooth, the best options are dental bridges and dental implants. Bridges are more affordable, while implants last a lifetime. Bridges are custom-made and treatment can be completed in around two weeks, while implant treatment takes several months, as the implant integrates into the bone tissue to take on the role of the tooth root.
Treatments for gaps between the teeth
If you have spaces between the teeth, there are various choices, including:
Veneers: veneers are porcelain shells, which are placed over the teeth to cover chipped and worn surfaces and gaps between the teeth to create a beautiful, flawless smile.
Cosmetic bonding: this is an affordable, quick and simple procedure, which can be used to repair chips and worn surfaces, as well as reducing the size of a gap between two teeth. It involves using dental composite, which is also used for white fillings; the composite is moulded to improve the shape of the tooth or close a gap and then set hard using a curing light.
Orthodontic treatment: orthodontic treatment is the best solution if you want a long-term treatment for gaps between the teeth. This form of treatment actually moves the teeth and there are many different options available, including fixed and removable braces.
Have you ever considered undergoing orthodontic treatment, but been put off by the stigma attached to braces? If this is the case and you long for straight teeth, allow us to introduce you to Invisalign, an invisible aligner treatment, which offers the opportunity to enjoy a perfectly aligned smile without any of the stress associated with visible braces. Invisalign is a popular treatment for teenagers and adults who are looking for a more discreet alternative to traditional braces.
The ins and outs of Invisalign
Invisalign offers an alternative to normal braces and it uses a different approach to treatment. Rather than utilising a fixed appliance, Invisalign employs a series of clear aligners to force the teeth into position. Each aligner is bespoke and the appliances work in a set order. The aligners are worn for 2 weeks and then replaced.
Invisalign aligners do not look anything like normal fixed braces; they are made to fit over the top of your teeth in a similar way to a gum shield worn for sport and they are completely clear. The aim of treatment is to straighten the teeth with optimum aesthetics, comfort and convenience.
The benefits
Most people choose Invisalign because the aligners are virtually invisible and this means that life doesn’t have to change much once treatment has started; you don’t need to worry about what people will think or about how you look. You can also eat and brush your teeth in the normal way, as the aligners can be taken out and popped back in very quickly and easily.
Aligners are light and they don’t have any troublesome bands or ties, which can be very painful.
Invisalign is suitable for many orthodontic patients and it can be utilised to correct a variety of issues, from mild crowding to gaps between the teeth.
The Inman aligner, aptly introduced at the very beginning of the new millennium, signalled the future for corrective orthodontic treatment. A new form of teeth straightening, available from Bristol dentists, that was both discreet and incredibly fast-acting, the Inman aligner immediately eclipsed other more traditional forms of teeth straightening.
Braces have never been the most pleasant of corrective dental treatments, but the Inman aligner seemed to offer a genuine alternative to ugly and uncomfortable fixed metal braces and the slow treatment times of invisible retainers. The Inman is ideal for the treatment of minor alignment issues, achieving stunningly straight results in as little as ten weeks. It has allowed many patients not quite willing to undergo the discomfort of wearing normal braces to have fast, effective and discreet realignment treatment.
The Inman aligner works by using the power of a coiled spring to put pressure on teeth needing repositioning and uses a labial bar to reverse that same pressure. This has the combined effect of pushing and pulling teeth simultaneously into alignment. Because only the labial bar is visible across the front of the teeth, the Inman aligner is therefore hardly noticeable while straightening. It also has the added advantage of being completely removable so does not disrupt regular teeth cleaning methods or eating habits.
Like almost all orthodontic treatments, the aligner can be a little uncomfortable for the first few days of treatment but this will soon fade as the teeth become accustomed to the pressure. Similarly, speech will be affected initially but this will again improve over the first week or two of treatment.
The Inman aligner is becoming a very popular way of achieving a beautiful smile and because of the speed of treatment is even becoming a must have cosmetic treatment in the run up to a big social event, especially weddings. Whether you want straighter teeth in order to be a beautiful bride or simply to have confidence in a beautiful smile, the Inman aligner could be just the tool for you. Call 0117 973 1910 for a free consultation with Dr Gerrard
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
The Inman aligner, aptly introduced at the very beginning of the new millennium, signalled the future for corrective orthodontic treatment. A new form of teeth straightening, available from Bristol dentists, that was both discreet and incredibly fast-acting, the Inman aligner immediately eclipsed other more traditional forms of teeth straightening.
Braces have never been the most pleasant of corrective dental treatments, but the Inman aligner seemed to offer a genuine alternative to ugly and uncomfortable fixed metal braces and the slow treatment times of invisible retainers. The Inman is ideal for the treatment of minor alignment issues, achieving stunningly straight results in as little as ten weeks. It has allowed many patients not quite willing to undergo the discomfort of wearing normal braces to have fast, effective and discreet realignment treatment.
The Inman aligner works by using the power of a coiled spring to put pressure on teeth needing repositioning and uses a labial bar to reverse that same pressure. This has the combined effect of pushing and pulling teeth simultaneously into alignment. Because only the labial bar is visible across the front of the teeth, the Inman aligner is therefore hardly noticeable while straightening. It also has the added advantage of being completely removable so does not disrupt regular teeth cleaning methods or eating habits.
Like almost all orthodontic treatments, the aligner can be a little uncomfortable for the first few days of treatment but this will soon fade as the teeth become accustomed to the pressure. Similarly, speech will be affected initially but this will again improve over the first week or two of treatment.
The Inman aligner is becoming a very popular way of achieving a beautiful smile and because of the speed of treatment is even becoming a must have cosmetic treatment in the run up to a big social event, especially weddings. Whether you want straighter teeth in order to be a beautiful bride or simply to have confidence in a beautiful smile, the Inman aligner could be just the tool for you. Call 0117 973 1910 for a free consultation with Dr Gerrard
