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Diastema is a medical term meaning “space between”—or what Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team less formally call a gap between the teeth. Such gaps are common for children as they make the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth, and usually close when all the permanent teeth arrive. But not always!

Sometimes a gap, usually between the upper front teeth, stays with you into adulthood, but doesn’t affect your perfectly heathy teeth. Sometimes a diastema develops due to medical conditions or trauma. Whether you would like to close a gap for cosmetic reasons, or need to address gaps that have developed because of dental problems, your treatment will depend on the causes of the diastema.

• The Relationship of Jaws and Teeth

Most of the time, we think of braces as straightening crooked teeth. For many braces wearers, the jaw can’t accommodate all of the adult teeth without crowding. But it’s also possible to have too much space for incoming teeth, and this can lead to a gap between two or more teeth. Orthodontic treatment is a common choice to close this kind of gap, using braces or clear aligners to move the teeth closer together.

• Prominent Labial Frenulum

The labial frenulum is a band of muscular tissue that connects the upper lip and the top of the gums. If it is too large, tissue can extend beyond the top of the front teeth. A gap develops when the front teeth simply can’t meet because of the tissue between them.  Oral surgery can reduce the size of the frenulum, if necessary, and often orthodontic treatment is the go-to option to close the diastema.

• Small Teeth or Small Gap

Occasionally, a few teeth are noticeably smaller than their neighbors. Bonding, veneers, and crowns can be used to enlarge these teeth, making them proportionate to the teeth around them. These treatments can also be successful in reducing a gap between the front teeth.

• Missing Teeth

Sometimes people are born missing a tooth. Sometimes people lose a tooth to injury or decay. And while the space left by a missing or lost tooth is a noticeable gap in itself, the remaining teeth can shift to fill the void, causing other gaps to develop as well. A dental implant or bridge can both replace a missing tooth and maintain the normal spacing of the teeth that surround it.

• Gum Disease

Left untreated, periodontitis (gum disease) can damage or even destroy the bone tissue which holds and supports the teeth. This, in turn, leads to “tooth mobility,” or loose teeth. Spaces between the teeth become more noticeable and larger over time. After the gum disease is treated, patient and dentist can explore options for reducing or eliminating spaces between the teeth.

• Harmful Oral Habits

Tongue thrusting and thumb sucking are two habits that can affect the alignment of the front teeth. Both behaviors pressure the teeth to move forward, which can cause separations between them. Learning how to change these behaviors will help prevent or stop the expansion of a diastema and potentially serious malocclusions (bad bites).

If you would like to discuss your diastema for aesthetic reasons, talk to Dr. Gregory Weaver for ways to reduce or eliminate the gap. If your diastema is the result of a medical condition, we will be able to recommend treatment options available at our Raleigh, NC office. If you’re teeth and gums are healthy, and you enjoy the individuality of your diastema . . .

• Embrace the Space!

A diastema can be a signature look for you and your smile. Normal brushing, flossing, and regular dental care will keep your smile bright, healthy, and uniquely you. And if you’re happy, healthy, and confidant, why, there’s no reason to mind the gap at all!

Dentists use advanced procedures to save teeth which would have been lost a few decades ago. But sometimes, when a tooth is severely compromised, it just can’t be saved. In this case, extraction is the best and healthiest option. 

When might Dr. Gregory Weaver recommend an extraction? Conditions which call for extraction could include:

• Extensive Decay

When a tooth has experienced mild to moderate decay, the team at Weaver Dentistry can remove the decayed portion, clean the area, and restore the tooth with a filling or a crown. If the decay is too extensive, there won’t be sufficient healthy tooth structure left for a restoration, and extraction will be necessary.

• Severe Gum Disease

The CDC estimates that almost 50% of those aged 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease, with the number rising to over 70% of adults aged 65 and older. Serious gum disease, or periodontitis, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. 

Periodontitis can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets where bacteria multiply and infection develops. Left untreated, infection destroys the connective tissue and bone which hold the teeth in place. Teeth become loose and eventually fall out. When tooth loss is inevitable, extraction can be a healthier option than waiting for the tooth to fall out.

• Serious Infection

When infection reaches the pulp inside the tooth, immediate treatment is necessary. An infected tooth will never get better on its own, and the infection can spread from the tooth to the surrounding gums and bone, creating a pus-filled abscess. 

When caught early enough, a root canal procedure can save your tooth. If root canal treatment isn’t possible or infection keeps recurring, extraction can be the best option to prevent infection from spreading and destroying gum and bone tissue.

• Extensive Cracks or Fractures

Caught early, cracks in the crown of a tooth or small fractures in a tooth root might be treated with root canal therapy or endodontic surgery. When a crack in the crown of the tooth extends below the gumline, or when a vertical fracture begins in the root of the tooth and spreads upward to the crown, the tooth often cannot be saved. 

• Wisdom Teeth

When wisdom teeth have no room to erupt, they may become completely impacted, lodged in the bone and gum tissue. Or they may begin to break through the gums but aren’t able to erupt completely (partial impaction), making them difficult to clean and vulnerable to infection and decay. When wisdom teeth begin to erupt without sufficient space, they can move horizontally or diagonally, putting destructive pressure on the roots of neighboring molars. 

• Trauma

Often a dislodged tooth can be restored to its place in the mouth when the injury is treated early enough and the damage is limited. When a tooth or its surrounding bone and ligaments are so badly damaged from trauma that the tooth can’t be reimplanted or restored with endodontic or surgical treatment, extraction is the healthiest choice.

When decay, gum disease, injury, or other conditions make it impossible to save a tooth, Dr. Gregory Weaver will recommend extraction to protect your oral health. Dentists who are experts in extractions have the skill and experience needed to:

• gently extract the tooth
• provide you with sedation options before the procedure
• provide options for pain management after the procedure
• give you detailed instructions for aftercare 
• suggest follow-up options such as tooth implants, which can restore your smile with a replacement which looks and functions like a natural tooth

Extraction is never your first choice, or your dentist’s! Proactive tooth and gum care help save teeth for a lifetime. But when a tooth can’t be saved, an extraction is the best option for protecting your oral health. Contact Weaver Dentistry in Raleigh, NC for more information today.

October 31—Halloween. Fourth Thursday in November—Thanksgiving. And, in between these two favorite autumn holidays, we have November 1—National Brush Day!

Okay, okay. Maybe National Brush Day isn’t quite as well-known as Halloween or Thanksgiving, but we take any opportunity to celebrate your dental health. So, let’s celebrate brushing!

After all, brushing is vital for healthy teeth and gums.

• Brushing is your first line of defense against plaque. Plaque forms all day long. Plaque sticks to your teeth. Plaque is filled with bacteria which produce cavity-causing acids. Brushing regularly means plaque won’t stay on your teeth long enough to cause serious tooth decay.
• Brushing is also important for your gum health. Angling your brush to carefully clean plaque and bacteria away from your gum line helps prevent gum disease.
• Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children and young adults. The leading cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease. Good brushing habits help prevent tooth decay and gum disease—a win/win when it comes to your oral health.

To make the most of the time you spend brushing, let’s take a moment to review some basics on National Brush Day.

Are You Brushing Correctly?

• Big, broad brushstrokes aren’t the answer. Instead, use small up-and-down or circular strokes over each tooth and each tooth surface—outside, inside, and on the flat surfaces of your molars.
• Because plaque forms all day, you need to keep on top of it. Brushing at least twice a day for two minutes each time is a good general rule. Dr. Gregory Weaver will let you know the best brushing schedule for your individual needs.
• Brushes are meant to clean, not to scrub. You don’t need a heavy hand for cleaner teeth.
• Which also means, there’s almost never a good time to brush with a hard-bristled brush. Hard bristles, along with hard brushing, can actually damage your enamel and gum tissue. Stick to a soft-bristled brush for dental TLC.

Are You Taking Care of Your Brush?

• To clean away bacteria and viruses you might have picked up during the day, wash your hands before brushing and flossing.
• Shake your brush dry when you’re finished and then let it air dry upright with the handle pointing down. Only use a case for travel, and make sure it has air holes for ventilation. (Bacteria thrive in a wet environment.)
• If your toothbrush lives in the bathroom, close the toilet seat before flushing to avoid airborne particles.
• No matter how close you are to your family members or roommates, don’t share your toothbrush. Sharing doesn’t mean caring in this case—it means sharing germs. Your brush should keep a healthy distance from other brushes as well.
• And no matter how fond you are of your brush, be prepared to replace it often! Most brushes last three to four months at best, because bristles start to fray and can’t clean effectively after several months of use.

It’s no coincidence that National Brush Day comes right after Halloween, the most sugar-filled holiday of them all. So, how can we mark the occasion?

Treat yourself to a new toothbrush! Take a moment to review your brushing habits. If you have young children at home, spend two minutes brushing together to make sure they’re brushing effectively–they might even have some tips for you! Brushing your teeth properly is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your oral health. That’s something to celebrate!

What to do to prevent gum disease? If left untreated, gum disease can lead to discomfort, infection, and even tooth loss. Bacteria in our mouths form a film called plaque. Plaque sticks to our teeth and can lead to gum inflammation. This inflammation can cause our gums to pull away from the teeth creating “pockets” which are home to infection and result in tooth and bone loss. Since the early stages of gum disease are often invisible, what is the secret to keeping our gums healthy?

Luckily, there is no secret to it at all! Preventing most gum disease is a simply a matter of following well-known guidelines, at home and in our Raleigh, NC office.

 Healthy Habits at Home

• Regular brushing and flossing

At least two minutes of careful brushing twice a day will help reduce bacteria and plaque. Use floss, picks, and other interdental tools to remove plaque from tight areas between the teeth that your brush might miss.

• If you smoke, now is the time to quit!

Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight infections and to heal. If you need another reason to quit, improving your oral health is a great one. Talk to us about ways to stop.

• Eating well

We all know sugar is no friend to dental health, and encourages bacterial growth. But eating apples, carrots and other crunchy vegetables can help remove food particles and stimulate the production of saliva, which fights bacteria production. Vitamins and minerals help strengthen bones and build healthy gum tissue. And a balanced diet supports not just your oral health, but the health and well-being of your entire body. Ask us for suggestions for a dental-healthy diet.

Regular Checkups and Cleanings

• We recommend a visit to our Raleigh, NC office every six months for a checkup. Dr. Gregory Weaver can discover and treat gingivitis (early periodontal disease) and recommend a periodontal exam if there are signs of more severe gum disease. There are some individuals who develop gum disease even with great brushing and flossing habits, so it’s important to have a dentist’s evaluation.
• Having your teeth cleaned every six months will remove plaque that brushing alone can’t handle. If there are signs of more serious gum disease, a periodontal cleaning will remove plaque and tartar from both above and below the gumline.

Brushing, flossing, avoiding smoking, eating well, seeing Dr. Gregory Weaver regularly—there’s no secret here! Talk to us about what you can do and what we can do to keep your gums healthy for a lifetime of beautiful smiles.