Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Solution For My Tooth Gap

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I have a huge tooth gap. It’s about 8mm in width. I don’t want braces. I’m too old for that. One dentist suggested snap on smile. Another suggested porcelain veneers. Which is better?

Carl

Dear Carl,

I’m very glad you wrote. I think we can prevent you from some serious disappointments here. First, I’ll go over the options you’ve been given, then I’ll make an alternate suggestion.

Snap-On Smile

image of snap-on smile

This will cover the gap you are concerned about. Snap-on Smile is a decent way of improving the look of your smile. However, I want to manage your expectations. These snap over your teeth, which some patients find make their teeth look bulky. They’re not meant to be permanent.

Usually, when well cared for, they’ll last a few years. You can eat with them, but will have to take them out afterward to rinse them off as well as brush and floss your natural teeth.

Porcelain Veneers

This is considered the top of the line smile makeover. Bear in mind it is expensive and requires someone with expertise. Your case, especially, would require one of the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

The reason for that is the size of the gap between your teeth. It’s large enough where you could fit an entire tooth there. It will have to be handled by someone at the top of their field. That will come with an additional price tag.

The pluses for this is it will look much nicer than snap-on smile and is considered a permanent solution. The veneers are bonded directly to your teeth.

Invisalign: A Better Solution

Two images: one of a woman placing her Invisalign aligner. The other, she's smling with it in.
Invisalgin is comfortable and Invisible

There is another permanent solution which won’t cost you a fortune. I know you said you didn’t want braces. When most adults think of braces, those horrible middle-school years come back to mind with a mouth full of metal wires and brackets.

Fortnately, there have been many advancements in orthodontics. We now have Invisalign. These are clear aligners which straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. They’re truly invisible, even at a conversational distance.

This can naturally close your tooth gap, giving you the smile you want. It has a side benefit too. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. So, if whitening is somethng you’re interested in, it’s like getting a two for one.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Will a Dental Flipper Make My Teeth Look Straight?

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I really don’t want braces. They take forever, hurt, and look horrible. Would a dental flipper work to just make them look straight?

Ben

Dear Ben,

A woman placing her Invisaliagn aligners

Orthodontics no longer has to mean metal braces

I like how you like to think out of the box. That shows a creative mind open to new ideas. Unfortunately, the dental flipper won’t be a viable solution for you. It’s meant as a temporary tooth replacement option. However, I do have two great solutions for you.

The first will do what you were hoping a dental flipper would accomplish. Snap-on Smile will fit snap over your teeth and make them appear straight. However, because they fit over your teeth they tend to make your smile look bulky. You also need to understand their limitations. These aren’t going to be a beautiful smile makeover like porcelain veneers. They’ll look okay. They can even look attractive. But, they won’t be stunning.

Invisalign—The Modern Alternative to Braces

You no longer have to wear traditional braces with their ugly, uncomfortable wires and brackets. Invisalign uses clear, comfortable aligners. You wear them in two-week intervals and switch them out for the next set. They’re nicknamed invisible braces because no one can tell you’re wearing them, even at a conversational distance.

Because they’re removable, you can eat whatever you want. Additionally, it makes it easier to brush and floss. You simply remove your aligners and brush and floss as you normally would.

A little-known side benefit of Invisalign is the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This allows you to get two procedures knocked out in one go. It’s like getting a mini smile makeover. You’ll look and feel great. You’ll also be surprised how much more confidence a nice smile brings you.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Solution for a large gap

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I have a gigantic gap in my two front teeth.  I measured it and it is not quite a full centimeter, but pretty close.  I asked my dentist if we could do anything.  He gave me some information on snap on smile.  Though it looked OK, I don’t want to have to wear something over my teeth. Is there another solution? I’m out in a desert town, so there aren’t many dental options for me here.

Meagan H. – California

Meagan,

Did your dentist mention invisalign?  If he didn’t, it might be because he isn’t equipped to do them.  These will close the gap in your teeth, like braces would, but without all the uncomfortable wires and brackets.

Invisalign uses clear aligners. Even at a converstional distance people will not be able to tell you are wearing them, so it is nothing like wearing braces.  You can eat whatever you want and clean your teeth normally, then just put the aligners back in. They work in about half the time as traditional braces.

If your dentist cannot do invisalign, I would just call around and see who does. It isn’t very complicated.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.