White Tooth Filling To Fill Gap In Front Two Teeth. Advice Needed. Should I Do It??

fad1211

I have had a gap in the front of my top teeth for some time now. I did have braces when i was sweet sixteen, but the damn dentist did not mention that I needed a retainer to keep it in place, and so within a year they sprung back to the original shape and have since been left with an ugly gap, which is quite big and have never been happy about.

Any treatment is done privately I have been told and not on the NHS. I have had an option of a permanent brace or porcelain veneers, but I do not want either due to cost.

I have now been told I can have white tooth filling to fill the gap. It is alot cheaper at £200. The thing is I do not have no knowledge about this. Searched the net, but found it is usually used on the back tooths. Can anyone shed any light. Is it any good, does it last, does it stain, does it seem obvious or does it blend with the original teeth, etc, etc. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Toothsmith

I think this is an excellent way to do what you want if the brace option has been ruled out.

Veneers, even very thin ones will do a little bit of damage to the teeth as the teeth have to be prepared for them.

White filling can be just stuck onto the enamel of your teeth without any preparation at all. You probably won't even have to be numbed up.

White filling does have the disadvantage of discolouring with time, but then so would veneers, although veneers would last a little longer.

The joy of white filling here though is that it can just be smoothed off, and done again.

The price sounds OK. This should get you a good white filling and about 45mins of the dentists time to build it up nicely and polish it well. Under a very bright light with a magnifying mirror you may be able to see the join, but that should be all.

If you don't smoke and are not too heavily into red wine & coffee, you should get about 8 years in between changes.

If you do smoke, then forget it - just save your money for a good denture in a few years when they all fall out anyway.

The only option that would never need re-doing would be the brace.

With the white filling, if your circumstances change, the filling can be removed and the bracework done later.

I like white filling!

fad1211

Thanks for all that information Toothsmith, it has really helped. However, I would like to know that although I dont drink red wine or smoke, I do love indian curry and with all the food dye and colourings they add, how much colour resistant would the filling be. I also wanted to know that when I get my fillings done, and they stain within say 6 months, is there any product on the market I can buy and self treat rather than go to dentist for a polish, as the dentist will charge alot.

Toothsmith

It's very hard to predict. But a LOT of curry would probably stain them quicker.

Very good toothbrushing is the best way to keep them in tip top condition. I wouldn't mess about with anything else.

Tooth whitening products are supposed to work on teeth. Even the stuff I have can't change the colour of white filling. Your normal 6 monthly clean up should be more than sufficient to keep them looking good.

mda99das

You have what is known as a diastama.
Some of the causes of a diastama is having a high freenum attachment, this is the fleshy thing that attaches from your upper lip to the gum and lies inbetween the 2 upper central incisors.

You could consider a freenectomy followed by orthodontics to close the space.
Composite build ups or Veneers would also seem appropriate

Composites can stain, the aesthetics are getting better, and they wear a lot quicker.

porclain veneers have excellent aesthetics, however veneers are not for everyone.
Your dentist will need to check your bite (occlusion and perhaps use a facebow)
a diagnostic waxup wouldnt seem unreasonable.

How bad do you see this as a problem? I know lots of people who are quite happy with their diastamas.

Discuss the options with your dentist. Get an estimate.


Save up over a period of time then go for it!