I Have Severely Gapped Teeth: Is Invisalign Right for Me?

We deal with various dental problems, and malocclusions (tooth misalignment) are a common problem globally. Recent research reveals that nearly half the populations of many countries have some issues with tooth alignment, and the number of patients changed little between genders. Diastema, or gapped teeth, is a form of malocclusion, often considered harmless, and affects American children (between 7-98%, depending on age) and adults (25.4%).

If the space between teeth is severe, getting dental treatments to close the gap may be beneficial. However, would clear aligners like Invisalign be up to the task? Let’s try to answer this question by examining the basics of diastema, what Invisalign does to help misaligned teeth, and how it can help with severe gaps in your smile.

Dr. Ayed Hawatmeh and his skilled medical staff at Bravo Dental Group can help improve your smile if you live in the Brea, Banning, Corona, or Hemet, California area and struggle with malocclusions like gapped teeth.

Diastema basics

This term for gapped teeth can occur anywhere in your mouth but is typically in the upper front teeth (midline diastema). Your teeth have some space between them to prevent overcrowding and other issues, but if the gap is more than 0.02 of an inch (0.5 millimeters), it is diastema. While common in children, they often grow out of the condition as the gap closes as they age. 

It can be genetic from your parents or result from dental conditions like gum disease (periodontitis). If you have gapped teeth with swelling or pain in your gums, treatment for gum disease is necessary. 

Diastema frequently doesn’t need treatment, but if the gap is too wide, it can mean crowding issues in other parts of the mouth, or you may want to close the gap for cosmetic reasons. Wide gaps between teeth may also become a trap for food particles that can lead to other dental issues like gum disease.

How invisalign corrects malocclusions

Invisalign is the brand name of a clear aligner, a dental brace used in orthotic treatment to manage problems with various tooth misalignments. While traditional braces attach directly to teeth with wires placed between them to slowly pull teeth into alignment over time, Invisalign creates a series of custom aligners made from a thermoplastic material, modified as necessary to fix malocclusions. It is also popular because the aligners are see-through and less conspicuous than traditional braces. 

You wear the aligners up to 22 hours a day, and because they are removable, it makes other home dental care regimens easier.

What can it do for severely gapped teeth?

Which option to use for gapped teeth is a question of the amount of the gap in between teeth. Though both traditional and clear braces can help narrow the gaps between teeth, traditional braces may better serve severe gaps between teeth. 

Invisalign works effectively on milder malocclusions and particularly smaller cases of diastema. Each case of diastema gets managed for the individual patient, so the choice mainly depends on the determination of your dentist.

Whether the gap in your teeth is small or wide, if it needs treatment, we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. Hawatmeh and the team at Bravo Dental Group today to take care of your teeth and achieve that perfect smile.