A diastema is a space (gap) between two teeth, most often noticeable between the two front teeth. This condition usually occurs when there is a disproportionate relationship between the jaw and the size of the teeth, but can also be caused by alignment problems, protruding teeth, or over-sized tissue.
Who Experiences Diastemas?
A diastema occurs to many different types of mammals (especially herbivores), but only humans can seek dental care to correct the problem. In animals such as sheep, rodents and beavers, this benefits them substantially by allowing for food to be moved to the cheek so that food consumption can continue without being slowed down.
In some cultures past and present, particularly in Africa, a diastema is considered to be a sign of attractiveness and fertility, and is associated with seductiveness. Some people have even had gaps created through cosmetic surgery. In France they are called lucky teeth, and in Australia, children with a diastema are considered to be able to predict future wealth.
Choosing to Correct Diastemas
Many individuals decide to opt out of having a cosmetic dental procedure to fix a diastema. Maybe you don’t feel like wearing braces for a couple of years, or maybe you are happy with your smile just the way it is. It’s considered a part of who you are. With the entire perfect smile” advertising today, Hollywood celebrities and regular people have become self-conscious of the “gap” between their teeth. And everyone wants that Hollywood perfect smile with straight, white teeth.
However, many others believe the diastema adds authenticity and originality. As Kirsten Dunce famously said about her diastema, “It gives me character and character is sexy.” Other celebrities like David Letterman, Madonna, Seal, Michael Strahan and Lauren Hutton, to name a few well known celebrities, who have totally embraced the gaps between their two front teeth and believe the diastema has benefitted their individual careers. They feel it makes them unique and memorable.
Procedures to Correct Diastemas
If you’re not famous but have a diastema that you’d rather not display when you smile, you can fix your diastema relatively painlessly. Perhaps the most often sought solution is to have an orthodontic procedure to move your teeth together using braces or the new “clear” Invisalign® tooth straightening procedure. These can be extremely effective, especially for those with larger gaps. The most appealing feature of Invisalign is they are invisible and removable for eating, brushing and flossing.
Another popular option is having porcelain veneers applied. Similar to artificial fingernails, veneers are thin layers of material especially customized to close the gap between the teeth. They are slightly wider than the natural tooth and bonded directly to the tooth surface to close the space. This procedure works well when the diastema is smaller in width. The cost of porcelain veneers vary from $300 per tooth to $1,300 per tooth.
The last option and perhaps most appealing is dental bonding. This procedure works well for closing smaller spaces. Bonding material, which is a tooth colored composite resin designed to match the color of your teeth and is sculpted in a freehand manner around the teeth to close the gap. The average cost for dental bonding is between $200 and $600 per tooth. With proper care, bonding last ten years and longer.
If you have a diastema you would like to correct, schedule a free consultation at Charlotte Dentistry®!
When you have had your wisdom teeth removed, it’s important to understand the best ways to heal comfortably and quickly. Once the teeth are removed, healing begins when a blood clot forms over the area. When this is displaced, a condition called dry socket may result, which can be painful. To prevent this from happening and for pain relief, it’s important to follow these care tips. By following these few simple tips, you can avoid dry socket and reduce pain significantly.
Take Your Pain Medication
Once you are home, it’s important to take your pain medication. If your dentist has given you a prescription, follow those instructions. If your doctor has advised you to take over the counter medication, like ibuprofen or aspirin, take it before you feel pain. Don’t wait for the pain to set in, it’s easier to prevent it than make it subside.
Take Care of the Dressings
When you leave the office, you will have a dressing, usually a gauze pad, covering the area. It may be bloody, but don’t panic, that’s normal. Any bleeding you may suspect is abnormal, call your dentist right away. Change the dressing as instructed; this is an important part of preventing dry socket.
Cleaning Your Mouth
Take care to avoid displacing the blood clot when brushing your teeth near the extraction site for three to four days as you heal. Carefully dab at that area with a clean and moist gauze pad. You could also use mouthwash if you prefer not to use a toothbrush the first few days. A chlorhexidine mouthwash is a good alternative to a toothbrush.
Reduce the Swelling
You may experience swelling. Apply ice packs for 15 minutes on and then 15 minutes off to help reduce swelling. Consider aspirin or ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory to help reduce swelling as well. Be sure to keep your head elevated until bedtime.
Dont’s:
Here are additional “don’t” tips to avoid dry socket and promote healing:
- Don’t rinse the area for 24 hours after tooth removal.
- Don’t poke at the extraction site with your tongue.
- Avoid sucking through straws, spitting, and blowing your nose.
- Don’t smoke, it can interfere with healing; the sucking motion could dislodge the blood clot.
Charlotte Dentistry® has been serving the area for over 33 years, where you’ll find a dentist to satisfy your needs. Charlotte Dentistry® ensures beautiful smiles stay healthful throughout life.
Your Invisalign provider may at some point in your treatment provide you with “chewies”.
The Aligner Chewie is made from a material called Styrene Copolymer and is a soft spongy plastic-like roll. They look much like a roll of cotton.
Typically, “chewies” are dispensed when you receive a new set of aligners. As you know, new aligner trays might not fit as tightly to your teeth when placed the first few times. To help your teeth move more quickly, you can bite on the “chewies” to help the new trays fit tighter to your teeth more quickly, so they do more good.
Position the “chewie” between your teeth and bite down. It can be placed short- or long-ways. It is important to move it around your mouth from one side to the other, biting down as you more it from one area to another. Repeat this process again and again to help the new trays seat properly on your teeth. The more your repeat, the quicker the tray will begin to move your teeth. Most Invisalign providers recommend several 5 to 10 minute sessions per day.
The most beneficial time to use the “chewies” is at bedtime. This will help your Aligner tray stay well seated and tight against your teeth while you sleep.
You can wash the Aligner Chewies with a mild soap and reuse them several times before they lose elasticity. It is recommended to clean them after each biting session.
You may receive only a few Aligner Chewies, as they are not provided by Align Technology, who creates your aligner trays. You or your Invisalign provider can order them in a variety of colors and flavors for your convenience.
Want to know more about how Invisalign can give you a smile makeover? Call Charlotte Dentistry today to schedule your free Invisalign evaluation with the Southeast leading Invisalign Elite Preferred Provider.