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Gaps between teeth are not always charming eye-catchers
Whether it’s Madonna, Seal, Elijah Wood or Georgia May Jagger – the small, charming gap between teeth is a trademark of many celebrities. And somehow they also seem attractive, the small gaps. However, a tooth gap is not the same as a tooth gap. Gaps caused by missing teeth often sap self-confidence. You should therefore have gaps in your teeth closed if they were caused by accidents, tooth decay or a physical impact. The chewing function and the health of the jaw can only be maintained with a complete set of teeth.
The possibilities are diverse. The bridge is common as a dental prosthesis, in which the gap is filled with a construction made of dental crowns. However, this also has disadvantages. On the one hand, the surrounding, healthy teeth are ground down. Valuable tooth enamel is removed. On the other hand, the chewing force can no longer be transferred to the jawbone. Due to the lack of stress, the bone regresses. The second option would be a dental implant. Information on implantology is available here:
What is a dental implant?
Wherever – for whatever reason – there are no more teeth. Only a bridging denture can be used. This means that the gap is closed with a pontic suspended in the air, which is attached to the teeth on the right and left. However, it is difficult to bridge larger gaps. Dental implants are then a good solution.
A dental implant is an artificial body that acts as a carrier for a denture. The artificial tooth root is anchored in the jawbone with a screw thread. The screw thread connects to the bone over a period of up to 6 months. The implant can then be loaded. Incidentally, dental implants have been around since the early 1980s. The implants are usually made of titanium. The material is very compatible with the surrounding tissue. Allergies rarely occur.
Dental implants have some advantages for you
Dental implants can be an optimal solution for you if you want to preserve your natural teeth and at the same time want to aesthetically fill in gaps in your teeth. Dental implants fit harmoniously into your dentition. It is not possible to see which tooth has a natural root and which tooth is supported by an implant.
Do dental implants also have disadvantages?
Dental implants are not covered by statutory health insurance. This will be the biggest problem for many, because the implants are not exactly cheap, but they are effective. If you have supplementary dental insurance, you are usually off the hook, because they will cover the costs for the implant depending on the contract. Unlike the bridge, they’re not a quick fix either. Before a crown is placed on the implant, it must heal. And that takes several months.
Why you should close tooth gaps
Gaps are by no means just an aesthetic problem. More and more problems arise over time. If teeth are missing in the front area, the lips are no longer supported. They fall in. Those affected appear older and their self-esteem falls.
But there are also health risks. The position of your teeth are also influenced by the neighboring teeth. If teeth are missing, there is no longer direct tooth contact, and neighboring teeth can also tilt. A false bite is formed. On top of that, the jawbone recedes. The jawbone lacks the load where a tooth is missing. This causes bone loss.
However, gaps in the teeth can also impair the ability to speak. If neighboring teeth are tilted, niches are created that are sometimes very difficult to clean. Bacterial plaque is promoted. Gaps in the teeth can even cause indigestion if the food is no longer broken down sufficiently because teeth are missing.
And finally, tension can also occur due to missing teeth. Yes, even problems with the temporomandibular joint are possible. Tilted teeth can cause miscontacts between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws. These “interfering contacts” can lead to teeth clenching or teeth grinding , which in turn is the trigger for tension. The consequences are unpredictable. Unilateral headaches, tinnitus, jaw pain or trigeminal neuralgia are just a few of them. In the long run, pain can even appear in whole other areas of the body.
Therefore, have tooth gaps closed quickly and professionally.
