Spaces Between Front Teeth Due to Congenital Missing Teeth: Is Orthodontic Treatment the Only Answer?

Hello,

I’m the director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

"I got a consultation somewhere else, and they said orthodontic treatment alone would take more than two years..."

"They said there’s nothing we can do because one tooth is missing, but is orthodontics really the only option?"

A patient who recently visited our clinic sighed and told me this.

They were worried because the space between the front teeth had widened, and after being diagnosed with a congenital missing tooth,

they were told they would need braces for at least one year, and possibly more than two years.

If you are reading this now, you may probably be feeling a similar sense of uncertainty.

You want to fix the gap in your front teeth quickly, but two years feels like an extremely long time, right?

At the same time, living with the gap as it is for the rest of your life also feels frustrating.

Is orthodontic treatment really the only answer?

To say the conclusion first, not necessarily.

Instead of a long two-year process, I’ll explain an honest alternative that can help you regain your smile more quickly and naturally.

Why is there a missing tooth even though no tooth was removed? Spaces Between Front Teeth Due to Congenital Missing Teeth: Is Orthodontic Treatment the Only Answer?

Normally, excluding wisdom teeth, adult permanent teeth total 28, which is considered normal.

But sometimes, even in adulthood, a tooth does not erupt.

This means the tooth bud itself never formed inside the jawbone.

In dentistry, this is called a "congenital missing tooth."

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In most cases, the space has been empty since birth.

The main cause is usually genetic factors, and sometimes it can also be influenced by conditions during pregnancy or general health status.

But what happens when there are fewer teeth?

The surrounding teeth gradually shift into the extra space.

Eventually, the overall alignment of the teeth begins to distort little by little.

That is exactly why the front teeth in today’s case appeared widely spaced.

Congenital missing tooth: must it always be treated with orthodontics? Spaces Between Front Teeth Due to Congenital Missing Teeth: Is Orthodontic Treatment the Only Answer?

Is orthodontic treatment the only answer for a congenital missing tooth?

To say the conclusion first, "not necessarily."

Orthodontics is a very good option.

However, when teeth are missing, there are some points to consider.

First, it is difficult to align the midline. With an odd number of teeth, the facial center line may appear shifted.

Second, the long treatment period can be a burden. It usually takes a long time, often one to two years or more.

Third, the harmony of tooth shape may be disrupted. You can move the tooth position, but if the tooth itself does not match the surrounding teeth in shape or size, patient satisfaction may remain low even after orthodontic treatment.

A case improved with prosthetic treatment instead of orthodontics for a congenital missing tooth Spaces Between Front Teeth Due to Congenital Missing Teeth: Is Orthodontic Treatment the Only Answer?

A patient who recently visited our clinic also had similar concerns.

After carefully checking the patient’s oral condition, these issues were identified.

There are six front teeth from canine to canine, but the lower teeth had one missing, leaving five.

1. Tooth #31:

A congenital missing tooth

2. Teeth #41, 32:

The front teeth are generally spaced apart because of the missing space

3. Tooth #41:

A "fractured" tooth with a broken incisal edge

4. Edge-to-edge bite:

A structure in which the upper and lower teeth hit each other directly in front

Of course, the spaced front teeth could also be improved with orthodontics,

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in this case, if orthodontic treatment were used, there was a possibility that the midline would look misaligned. Also, a broken tooth cannot be restored through orthodontics.

Above all, because the patient wanted a quick improvement, I suggested zirconia prosthetics as the most reliable alternative.

Two or three teeth? Checking in advance with a "temporary tooth" Spaces Between Front Teeth Due to Congenital Missing Teeth: Is Orthodontic Treatment the Only Answer?

The biggest challenge in this treatment was deciding how many teeth to create in the empty space.

We had to decide whether to make three teeth, matching the original count, or two teeth to fit the available space.

Using oral scanner data, I carried out a careful simulation in advance.

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First, when designing with three teeth,

they had to be forced into a narrow space, which made the teeth too small

and the midline looked off as well. The overall appearance was inevitably awkward.

On the other hand, when designed with two teeth, there was enough natural size to harmonize with the surrounding teeth.

The upper and lower midlines also came together in a stable way, producing the most ideal form.

But more important than the data is the patient’s actual satisfaction, right?

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So I made temporary teeth first.

This is the process of checking them in the mouth before making the final prosthetics.

The patient tried on the temporary tooth shape and liked it,

so we decided to make the final prosthetics designed as two teeth.

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If there were any areas that needed adjustment, we could modify them at this stage.

When the patient can try it first and make a decision, the result is bound to be better.

Thanks to that, without adding one unnecessary crown, we were able to complete front teeth that matched the midline and looked natural.

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Are you hesitating to receive treatment for spaced front teeth caused by a congenital missing tooth because of the long orthodontic treatment period?

If left untreated, the surrounding teeth can also shift, so it is important to receive an appropriate diagnosis that matches your condition.

Dental treatment may feel difficult, but we will listen carefully to your concerns and work together to find the most comfortable solution.

Thank you.^^

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Spaces Between Front Teeth Due to Congenital Missing Teeth: Is Orthodontic Treatment the Only Answer?

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| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Advertising Act. We recommend using the information provided for reference only, and for an assessment of symptoms and accurate management methods, please visit a medical institution and receive guidance from medical professionals. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve possibilities such as inflammation, bleeding, and swelling depending on the individual. Please make decisions after sufficient consultation with medical professionals in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of patients who completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions. |