If you have a gap between the middle front teeth of your upper palate, you may desire to close it. Even if your bite is not compromised by the gap, your smile may not appear uniform or balanced.

Moving the upper center two teeth directly backward would eliminate the gap. However, it would also significantly compromise your front bite. The front teeth of the upper and lower palates would not meet properly when you close your mouth.

Nevertheless, there are dental options to correct the issue without notable side effects. Here are a few ways that your dentist or orthodontist can reduce the size of the gap between your upper front teeth. 

Move the Upper Back Teeth Forward

The spaces between the upper front teeth can be minimized by moving the upper back teeth forward. As the back teeth are repositioned toward the front, they place pressure on the front teeth, pushing them together. 

Nevertheless, the movement of the back teeth can alter the back bite a bit, changing the way that the upper and lower back teeth fit together when the mouth closes. Additionally, the movement of all the back teeth may be difficult to achieve.

Widen the Upper Front Teeth

Sometimes, the gap between the teeth is due to the small size of the teeth. Smaller teeth tend to be surrounded by larger interdental spaces. Nevertheless, the size of the teeth can be increased using crowns, veneers, or dental bonding material. 

These options don't actually require the movement of the teeth. However, if the spacing between the center front teeth and the adjacent teeth is no longer uniform, your orthodontist can reposition the adjacent teeth to equalize the spacing.

In addition, if the width of the upper teeth is much more narrow in relation to that of their lower counterparts, the spaces cannot be properly corrected orthodontically without altering the size of the upper or lower teeth to match or adjusting the bite.

Increase the Space Behind the Four Center Front Teeth

By increasing the space behind the upper lateral teeth and moving the center four front teeth closer together, the center gap can be eliminated. Many patients go for this approach since there is generally less focus on the sides of the upper palate when a smile is observed.

Additionally, there is an advantage to this option. The orthodontic adjustment is minimal, and only a small portion of the palate configuration is changed.

If you have a center gap that you would like to eliminate, schedule an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist in your local area.

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