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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I fix gaps between my teeth?

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    Dentistry Oral Health
    I am 14 years old.

    I have a few gaps between my teeth. More detailed - I have ~2mm gap between my central incisors, then I have a ~0.9mm gap between my central incisor and lateral incisor (on both sides) and again, ~2mm gap between my latheral incisor and canine (again, on both sides).

    Is there any possibility, that I could fix them with retainer? Braces are not an option for me, since I am too poor for that.
    • 2 answers
    • Dr Roland Chong
    • Dr Keith Hengpoonthana
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    Dr Roland Chong

    Dentist

    Gaps between teeth at your age should be managed as conservatively as possible. The options available are:

    1) Veneers, either with ceramic or composite resin material.
    2) Orthodontics (braces).
    3) Composite resin (tooth coloured filling material) to increase the width of the teeth.

    The most conservative approach is to use braces (orthodontics) to move the teeth and close the gaps. But you really need to speak to your family dentist who will be able to lead you to the correct treatment option appropriate for your age.

    Good Luck!

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  • Dr Keith Hengpoonthana

    Dentist

    Principal dentist of Newington Dental Care. Previous teaching staff for the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney. Special interest in dental anxiety management and orthodontics. … View Profile

    Just clarifying, when you mean "fix with retainers" do you mean removable plates? because retainers are an appliance that aims to keep the teeth in their current position, and it sounds like you are interested in closing those spaces.

    On top of the options given by Dr Chong above, there are also clear aligners (eg Invisalign). There are indeed many options ranging from cheaper to expensive. Many orthodontists and dentists provide payment plans (no interest payment weekly or monthly).

    I am also curious whether you have all your adult teeth or still have some baby teeth remaining, it's still a possibility at the age of 14 to have baby teeth that haven't fallen out, in which case spaces may start to close up once the adult teeth replace these. 

    Again, talk to your dentist and see if there are options that suit your budget. Another avenue to explore is whether you are eligible for treatment under public oral health services, if so you can be placed on a wait list for orthodontics covered under Medicare. 

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