Sunday, August 2, 2009

Can bridges on either side of gapped front teeth pulled together by braces prevent the gap from returning?

If a person has only 4 top teeth in front (the two front teeth and the fangs) because the teeth adjacent to the two front teeth genetically never formed (x-rays show nothing there), and so these 4 teeth are spread appart and gapped, can they be fixed with bridges? They were "fixed" 10 yrs. ago with wide caps to fill the gaps, but that looks unnatural. The dentist thinks that the wide gap between the 2 front teeth is caused by the frenum and needs a frenectomy. Can't braces pull the fangs back where they belong and pull the 2 front teeth together? And if the missing tooth between the front one and the fang is added with a bridge (thus needing 2 bridges for 2 sides), wouldn't the bridges keep the gap between the 2 front teeth from reappearing even without an upper labial frenectomy?

Can bridges on either side of gapped front teeth pulled together by braces prevent the gap from returning?
For proper tissue contour and esthetics you would probably want to do the frenectomy, with possibly pre-prosthetic orthodontics.





Dentists do not ordinarily replace fangs, but you can pick up some plastic ones at the Dollar Store.
Reply:You might consider implants in place of the 2 lateral incisors that are missing after the ortho has created the spaces again. This would prevent you from having to crown the 4 virgin teeth that would act as your abutment or anchor teeth for bridges. Check with an oral surgeon to see if you'd have enough bone for implants.





The diastima or gap usually will reocurr if the tissue is too thick between the central incisors. You need the surgery to reduce the tissue.
Reply:Braces can pull apart %26amp; push together.





I had braces for 2 and a half years. And you have to continue wearing your retainer for years to keep them straight.





[I've got the clear retainer, so it's all good]



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