Did a gap reappear after braces, once the retainer went back in the drawer? From Burlington, you can have the returning space assessed along with tooth proportions, gum health and your bite, then compare whether composite bonding, more orthodontic care or a mix of the two suits you.
Teeth tend to drift after orthodontic treatment, especially when a retainer is worn less over time. A small gap can creep back between the front teeth. Bonding is one possible response: composite in a matching shade is added to the sides of the teeth, making them slightly wider instead of moving them back into place.
That difference is worth understanding before you choose. Bonding changes tooth shape, while orthodontics changes tooth position. You are also free to leave a returning gap if it does not bother you. When you would like it changed, the clinician will consider its cause, its width, and whether the teeth are still moving.
Coming from Burlington, it helps to bring any retainer you still have to the first appointment at our Bronte Street practice. Tell us what you liked about the result after braces and what has changed since. We can then examine the area and lay out bonding beside the other sensible options.
The answer guides the plan. Mention your orthodontic history, any symptoms, and other dental work, so the clinician can judge whether cosmetic bonding is a reasonable next step.
If the gap has stayed the same for a while, think about whether you want it closed or just reduced. Composite widens the teeth involved, so their shape will be looked at closely. Natural-looking proportions often matter more than closing every fraction of a millimetre.
Point out any gum bleeding, looseness, or change in your bite. A gap that continues to widen may involve the gums and bone, or other factors besides relapse. It needs to be understood before any material is used to hide it.
Bring the retainer and any records of your treatment. The clinician can look at current tooth position, earlier composite, and how a new result would be held. Ask how changing the tooth outline would affect a retainer you might wear again.
If the space is where a tooth is missing rather than between two neighbours, gap bonding may not be appropriate. Let the team know about any tooth that never formed, was extracted, or was lost.
With suitable teeth, composite is shaped onto the edges beside the gap to give a new outline. Careful shade choice and polishing help it blend. The plan must also suit how the teeth contact each other and how they come together when you chew.
Bonded composite can stain, wear or chip as the years pass, and it may need polishing, repair or replacement. Because a returning gap may also keep shifting, ask how stability will be managed. Make the decision knowing the upkeep, not only the first result.
Patient information: Canadian Dental Association — bonding for small gaps and shape changes · Cleveland Clinic — tooth gaps and their causes
You can ask about the gap alone without starting a broader cosmetic plan. Find out which teeth would receive composite and why. The plan should describe effects on nearby teeth rather than assuming they also need treatment.
Ask whether reshaping, renewed tooth movement or a combination is better suited to your relapse. Each has a different commitment. Speed alone does not make bonding the best answer if the teeth are still on the move.
Discuss how you will floss or use another aid at the new contact. Ask how the gumline will be reached once composite is added. A narrower gap is only helpful if the area can still be kept clean.
Bonding should follow a clear discussion of whether it suits you and what else could be done. Ask how the shape will be planned and whether retention or other care should come first.
Share when the space returned, details of past braces or aligners, and any fillings nearby. The clinician examines your teeth, gums and bite. Records or an orthodontic opinion may be suggested before any cosmetic recommendation.
Discuss the planned tooth width and whether to close the gap fully or partly. Ask about preparation, shade, fees, upkeep and retention. Compare bonding with further orthodontics and with leaving a healthy gap as it is.
When you agree to proceed, the tooth surfaces are prepared and resin is built up and shaped. A curing light sets the material. The clinician refines the contact with the neighbouring tooth and the edge near the gum.
The surfaces are polished, and your bite and contact are checked. Ask to see how to clean between the treated teeth. Look at the result and any remaining space, and confirm your review plan before you leave.
Use the cleaning method demonstrated for your new tooth shapes, and follow any retention advice you are given. The teeth are still separate and the contact between them needs daily care.
Use the recommended aid without forcing it, and ask for help if it will not pass as shown. Floss that shreds or keeps catching, or trouble reaching the gumline, should be checked. Keep cleaning the area even though the gap is less visible.
Do not bite on hard items or use your teeth as tools. Tell the clinician about clenching or grinding and ask whether it should be assessed. Any protection should be planned for you, not assumed to come with the composite.
Arrange a review if an edge feels rough, composite breaks away, or the gap seems to be returning again. The cause determines whether polishing, repair, or another assessment is needed. Avoid trying to repair or reshape it yourself.
Patient information: Cleveland Clinic — maintaining dental bonding
Ask how the plan relates to your retention, tooth width, bite and cleaning. Suitability depends on more than whether the gap looks small.
Come in to our Bronte Street practice for an assessment of spacing that returned after treatment. We will look at your history, the surrounding gums and teeth, and the options that suit both your wishes and your oral health.
Bonding depends on the cause of the gap, your tooth proportions and your bite. Spacing that keeps changing should be assessed before elective closure is planned.
