question for drrick

Message

#1 Post by **fff** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:39 pm

is a gap smaller than 1 mm between front teeth acceptable after orthodontic work that was supposed to close those gaps?

if a patient brought that problem to your attention would you think he is being perfectionist or would you think he is making a valid complaint?

#2 Post by **drrick** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 1:22 pm

much of this depends on how big the gaps were in the first place.

If you had a 10mm gap the situation is a little different than a 3mm gap.

If there is a gap I like to determine the cause of it so a solution can be figured out. Common causes are:
occlusion (the bite on the front teeth might need a slight adjustment) tooth shape triangular teeth can get 'black triangles' leaving space above the contact (same thing with perio disease btw)
tooth size. the teeth themselves can be too narrow (usually the laterals)

these are just a few things that can cause that.

#3 Post by **fff** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 2:15 pm

drrick wrote:much of this depends on how big the gaps were in the first place.

If you had a 10mm gap the situation is a little different than a 3mm gap.

If there is a gap I like to determine the cause of it so a solution can be figured out. Common causes are:
occlusion (the bite on the front teeth might need a slight adjustment) tooth shape triangular teeth can get 'black triangles' leaving space above the contact (same thing with perio disease btw)
tooth size. the teeth themselves can be too narrow (usually the laterals)

these are just a few things that can cause that.

the gap was about 4 mm