Are you unhappy with your smile because your teeth are crooked? Perhaps you’ve got a gap between your teeth that makes you self-conscious. These are generally cosmetic problems that have several potential treatments. But which one is the right solution for your smile?
Each smile is different, and the only way to know what’s best is to come into Dental Excellence of Blue Bell and consult with cosmetic dentist Dr. Ken Siegel about the specifics of your smile. However, if you’re not ready to come in for a consultation, here are some solutions we often recommend for these conditions.
Dental Bonding: A Quick, Inexpensive Fix for Tooth Gaps
One of the easiest ways to fix a smile gap is dental bonding. Dental bonding is similar to composite dental fillings. This resin-ceramic composite starts as a soft putty that Dr. Siegel can apply to your teeth, shaping it to build up your natural teeth, making them large enough to close the gap. Once the bonding is shaped, a curing light causes the resin to harden. Depending on how much bonding Dr. Siegel needs to apply, he might take several steps to apply the bond and cure it to ensure it’s thoroughly hardened. Once the bonding is applied, shaped, and hardened, we will polish it to create the luster of natural teeth.
Dental bonding has several advantages that make it popular, including:
- We can apply it in one visit
- It provides initially attractive results
- It’s inexpensive
- It requires the least preparation of natural teeth
Dental bonding can be applied to your teeth in just one visit. There’s nothing to send to the lab, and there’s no waiting for the lab’s response. Plus, when we apply bonding, it looks great, thanks to the polish of the resin. Dental bonding is the least expensive treatment and requires the least preparation of your natural teeth: just an acid wash that roughens the teeth to help the bonding stick.
However, dental bonding does have some disadvantages, including that it is:
- Not very durable
- Vulnerable to staining
As a result of these disadvantages, dental bonding may only last a few years before breaking off or discoloring. For this reason, people sometimes use dental bonding to “try out” a cosmetic solution. If they like the results, they might try a more durable solution.
Lumineers Give Great Results While Preserving Teeth
Like bonding, Lumineers build up your natural teeth to close the gap or gaps in your smile. In some cases, they can even straighten crooked teeth by reshaping them.
Lumineers are a special form of porcelain veneers. They use a proprietary type of advanced ceramic that makes them thinner than other veneers. As a result, we can apply them to your teeth with little or no preparation of the tooth (we won’t have to remove tooth material).
Lumineers have several advantages:
- Require minimal to no preparation of teeth
- Very attractive
- Stain resistant
- Highly durable
Lumineers can be so thin that we can apply them with little or no preparation of your teeth–we won’t remove much enamel, if any. Once placed, they’ll be nearly indistinguishable from your natural teeth. In addition, Lumineers are stain-resistant and durable, so they are expected to last 10-15 years, and with proper care, some last even longer.
Disadvantages of Lumineers are that they are:
- Expensive
- Only appropriate in some situations
Lumineers cost about the same as traditional veneers, but which solution is best for your smile depends on detailed factors Dr. Siegel will evaluate.
Veneers Are a More Flexible Solution
Like bonding, porcelain veneers build up your natural teeth to close the gap or gaps in your smile. We can use them to reshape and straighten your teeth in many situations.
Veneers are facades of advanced ceramic that we cement to your natural teeth. Because they come in many materials, and we shape your teeth to receive them, they are appropriate in any situation. However, some people don’t like the thought of removing tooth enamel for veneers.
The advantages of veneers include:
- Useful in more situations
- Very attractive
- Stain resistant
- Highly durable
Veneers are the best choice in more challenging cases than Lumineers or bonding. This comes into play even more when we’re dealing with crooked teeth rather than just a smile gap. They’re nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth but can beautify your entire smile if you want. Their stain resistance and durability mean that we expect veneers to last 10-15 years, and some last even longer with proper care.
Disadvantages of veneers include:
- Are expensive
- Require tooth preparation
Veneers cost about the same as Lumineers, but they require the preparation of your teeth, which some people dislike.
Orthodontic Options for Tooth Gaps and Crooked Teeth
Orthodontics is the preferred solution for gapped and crooked teeth in many cases. Orthodontics means the science of straight teeth, which indicates how suited the approach is to dealing with these problems.
Orthodontics works by moving your teeth into place. Although the process is slow, it allows Dr. Siegel to correct any crookedness in your teeth. He can also use orthodontics to close multiple gaps quickly and without additional expense.
We use two different types of clear orthodontics: Invisalign and Six Month Smiles. Clear aligners, sometimes called clear braces, are plastic trays that you wear over your natural teeth. Each aligner moves your teeth a bit, and when you follow the full sequence, your teeth will be straight. Six Month Smiles uses an advanced form of traditional braces that are almost invisible and work fast so that you can get your final results faster.
The benefits of orthodontics are that they:
- Can deal with any gaps or crookedness
- Preserve your natural teeth
- Deliver potentially permanent results
Orthodontics can deal with gaps and crookedness that are too much for bonding, Lumineers, or veneers. Plus, we never have to remove natural tooth enamel to do orthodontics. Finally, the results of orthodontics can be permanent if you wear your retainer as recommended.
However, the disadvantages of orthodontics are that they:
- Take a long time to complete
- Can’t alter the shape or color of your teeth
The other approaches treat gaps and crookedness in a month or less. In comparison, orthodontics takes at least six months. In addition, orthodontics just moves your teeth. It won’t reshape or brighten them, so it might not be the best approach if you don’t like the look of your teeth.
Find the Best Solution for Your Gaps and Crooked Teeth
If you’re unhappy with your smile because of gaps or crooked teeth call Dr. Siegel at (610) 272-0828. He can evaluate your smile and talk to you about your options to help you discover the best approach for your gaps and crooked teeth.
