Teeth gap or spacing can be due to a few reasons:
1) Generalised spacing or spacing spread out across a few teeth often as a result of a tongue habit or generalised small teeth (often these spaces appear at the front teeth region and is spread out across the front 4-6 teeth)
2) Spacing due to small lateral incisors, these are the teeth adjacent to the front teeth
3) Spacing due to missing teeth and drifting of adjacent teeth towards the space
4) Filling at the sides of the back teeth resulting in a loss of contact between the teeth, this often causes food trap issues
In my opinion, teeth gap that is localised to one or 2 teeth with a space of not more than 0.5mm per contact can be closed with dental bonding using composite filling material.This is because dental bonding increases the convexity of the tooth and creates an extra ledge for plaque bacteria to grow and fester hence increasing the risk of gum disease in the area. Closing a larger space with dental bonding also affects the proportions of the front teeth and may compromise the aesthetics of the smile.
Generalised spacing cannot be effectively managed with dental bonding as the risk of increased plaque trap outweighs the benefit. Generalised spacing is better managed with braces treatment.
If the space is due to missing teeth, this may mean that the space is too large to be managed with dental bonding and other options will need to be considered. If the teeth gap is due to a loss of contact between the teeth as a result of a filling, a new filling may need to be attempted or other prosthetic options can also be considered.
It is best to consult your dentist who will be able to assess your needs and offer you various treatment options based on the location and size of your teeth gap.
