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Why Are My Braces Not Closing The Spaces Between My Teeth?
Posted on 03/21/2017

Why Are My Braces Not Closing The Spaces Between My Teeth?

As your trusted Huntington Beach, CA orthodontist, it's our goal to give you the straightest and healthiest smile possible. With our wide array of braces and other orthodontic treatments, we believe that we're well equipped to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. If you happen to be wearing braces though, you may notice that some of the gaps between your teeth aren't actually closing. You may be wondering why that is. It generally comes down to one of the following reasons.

The Size, Shape, or Position of the Teeth

The most common reason as to why braces have a hard time closing some gaps is because of the size, shape, or position of the teeth. A tooth may be too small to properly fill a space between two normally sized teeth. In this circumstance, it's recommended that the tooth is resized and reshaped in order to fill the gap. The positioning of your teeth can also cause a problem because if a tooth is angled, the roots of two adjacent teeth may actually be touching. This can prevent crowns from being brought together. This type of problem can be fixed through moving a tooth or reshaping one.

The Surrounding Structures

If the teeth are normal, the problem may lie with the surrounding structures. There are a variety of issues that can prevent the spaces between your teeth from closing, including the following:

  • Tongue posturing issues

  • Very thick tissue between the teeth

  • Problems with the ligaments around the tooth root

  • Cysts or growths in the bone between the tooth roots

The Bite

If the previous reasons don't happen to be the cause, it may be because of the bite. The lower front teeth can push against the backs of the upper front teeth and create spaces. Some teeth can even wedge inside a gap to keep it from closing. Spaces caused by a bad bite can only be fixed if the teeth involved are reshaped or moved.

Contact Your Huntington Beach, CA Orthodontist Today!

If you're looking for braces or any of our other orthodontic treatments, we encourage you to give us a call at (714) 842-9933. Alternatively, you can fill out our online appointment request form. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. We can't wait to meet you and help put you on the path toward a straighter and healthier smile!