new gap between front teeth

[dkangel]

I’ve had my braces on for four months, my two front teeth where crooked and now they are fairly straight. Now I have a gap between them, the bottom on my teeth touch without a gap, but then the gap starts and goes all the way to the gum line. Is this normal, will be braces move the teeth in such a way that this new gap will go away?

[bluegirl]

I've developed a gap between my front right tooth and the one to the right of that. I don't like it but I'm assuming gaps will come and go as that means my teeth are moving! I'm new at all of this so I'll be interested in hearing other people's insights!

[dezlorelle]

I think it's pretty normal while everything is in process. I've developed the very same thing in only 2 weeks, but I see it as a great thing! I'm sure they will eventually be brought together once they are straightened out.

[mary.]

I had the same thing happen after a few months! I remember thinking, this isn't better!!

Your teeth move around a bit until they get themselves aligned straight. The gap won't stay. Mine was gone in a few weeks.

If you're really worried you can call your ortho and ask if it's anything you need to be worried about, I'm sure they'd be happy to respond. But, I think you can be comfortable knowing that it's normal. My ortho told me that the teeth move around in different ways - to find the space that they need and to line up.

[CassieB]

I am dealing with this right now and have my first adjustment on Monday.
I have new gaps and my previously straight teeth are now crooked! I was told over the phone this is normal as my teeth aren't "in their final position".

I'll definately post what my Ortho says!

[almost50]

from what you are describing it sounds like a black triangle--where your teeth are slightly triangular shaped and so they meet at the ends but not near the gum line.

I had/have the same situation. They did some IPR (or sanding) between the two front teeth and it's much better, but I will have to live with a little bit of it just because of the nature of my teeth.

[starzz]

I agree with Almost50. If your top front teeth are straight and touch at the bottom, the gap at the top is how it's going to be. I have this too, it's just how my teeth are shaped. Some IPR could reduce it or maybe eliminate it.

[CassieB]

Uh-oh. Now I'm a little weirded out. The "triangle" isn't slight..it's big and my gums have "filled the space". It's strange...there is no space, but gums. I also have a tooth impacted in my upper palate. I wonder if that is affecting the movement of my front teeth. My gum area at my front teeth feel and look swollen, and this is the only place it's happening.

Now I really can't wait until Monday!

[dkangel]

Oh, I think "almost 50" is right. I think this might be what is going on. I don't know what IPR stand for but if it's some form of sanding then it sounds like that is what I'll have to have done. My braces have only been on for 4months and I still have to get the bottom braces put on and then use rubberbands hopefully doing this will help with the gap or black triangle. Only time will tell.
Thank you everyone for your replies.

[uvraise]

IPR stands for Inter Periodontal Reduction, you can look up the specifics on the web, the gap between your teeth can be easily closed with a power chain, they're not fun but they do work for closing gaps. Hope that helps!
JOHN

[CassieB]

Saw my ortho this morning and was told the swelling is because the gum tissue is basically p.o'ed! He told me to get peroxide mouthwash and the swelling should get better. He also said closing the gap in the front might be one of the last things we do (because I have an extraction and exposure of an impacted canine coming up!).

I find it funny how little I actually knew about this process before I got braces. I'm still very much looking forward to being done in 18 months!

[smilegirl18]

Hi I'm so glad I found this post as I was starting to worry something was going very wrong with my treatment or I'd got a bad ortho.

I too have developed a gap between my front right tooth and the tooth to the right of it, and there was no gap there before I got my braces. The gap is very noticable and runs the whole length of the teeth, top to bottom and the tooth to the right has some slight up & down movement to it.

It's nice to know from other peoples experiences that this is normal and all part of the treatment and things often look like they are getting worse before they get better. It's very re-assuring to those of us new to braces to have so much support from people who have been through the same thing.