**Spaced tooth composite** or closing the gap between the teeth with **Dental composite** is a quick and inexpensive way to close the gap between the teeth and improve the appearance of the smile, which is usually done in one session. This method is suitable for those who have a small gap between their teeth and have healthy teeth. The steps of the spaced tooth composite include preparation, acid wash, composite bonding, light curing and final polishing. The cost of each tooth unit is between 1 and 4 million tomans. Composite durability is usually 3 to 7 years, which can be extended up to 10 years with care. Its disadvantages include the possibility of color change and lip filling, but it has advantages such as natural appearance, speed of performance and lower cost. **What is spaced tooth composite** People who have spaced teeth and this has caused their beauty to disappear, one of the methods that can solve this problem is to close the gap between the teeth with composite. In this method, the composite veneer is placed on one or two of the person's teeth and covers the gap between the two teeth, and the beauty of the person's smile is restored. Apart from closing the space between the teeth, the spaced tooth composite can beautify, fix defects such as fractures or cracks, ugliness and crookedness or malformation. Also, this method has a much lower price than **dental orthodontics**. **Reasons and causes of gap between teeth** - The size of the teeth is larger than the size of the jaw and mouth bones. - Too much pressure on the front teeth when swallowing. - The habit of putting pressure on the teeth through tongue touching the teeth. - The habit of thumb sucking, especially in children aged 1 to 5 years. - Emptying the place of a tooth that has been pulled or lost. - Gingiva and jawbone degeneration in case of various diseases. - Genetic and hereditary factors. **Consequences of not closing the gap between teeth** If the distance between the teeth is not closed, it can cause many problems for people, the most important of which are the following. - Decreasing the beauty of the smile and reducing self-confidence when smiling or talking. - Difficulty in speaking and correct pronunciation of some letters in some people. - Frequent food getting stuck in the spaces between the teeth, which causes bad breath. - Increasing the possibility of tooth decay due to the lack of complete cleanliness in the spaces. - Occurrence of diseases and inflammations of the gums due to the accumulation of plaque and bacteria in these spaces, which may lead to loose teeth and jawbone degeneration. - Causing disharmony and displacement of teeth in case of loss of the adjacent tooth without alternative treatment. - Functional problems in chewing and eating food due to misalignment of teeth. **Steps and how to perform spaced tooth composite** To close the gap between the teeth using composite, the following steps must be taken: ### **Preparation of teeth** First, the teeth are cleaned by the dentist and cleaned of any plaque and contamination. If necessary, the surface of the teeth may be shaved very slightly to improve the adhesion of the composite. ### **Composite color selection** The dentist chooses the best composite color that matches the natural color of the patient's teeth to maintain the natural appearance. ### **acid cleaning of the tooth surface** The surface of the teeth is prepared with a mild acid solution (phosphoric acid H) so that the surface of the tooth becomes slightly porous and a more resistant bond with the composite is created. ### **Banding applications (glue)** Bonding material or special composite glue is placed on the surface of the tooth to strengthen the connection between the tooth and the resin. ### **Placing and shaping the composite** The composite resin is placed as a paste on the teeth and in the spaces between them and is shaped with precise tools to close the space and make the teeth look natural. ### **Curing (hardening)** Composite resin hardens and stabilizes with special light irradiation (UV lamp or laser). ### **Final polishing and modification** The surface of the composite is polished to make it look smooth, shiny and natural, and the dentist also checks the bite and coordination of the teeth and corrects them if necessary. This process is usually done in one session and is less costly and time consuming than other methods such as dental lamination. **advantages and disadvantages of spaced tooth composite** **Cares and maintenance after doing a spaced tooth composite** - Do not eat anything for the first 1 to 2 hours after the composite. - Avoid eating colored food and drinks for the first 24 hours. - Continue regular brushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing. - Avoid eating hard foods and chewing hard objects. - Visit the dentist every 6 months for a checkup and polishing. - Avoid habits like teeth grinding or use a dental guard. **Cost and price of spaced tooth composite** The cost of dental composite to close the gap between teeth in Iran usually ranges from 1 million to 4 million tomans per tooth unit. Factors affecting the price include the number of teeth to be composited, the type of composite material used, the skill and experience of the dentist, and the geographic location of the dental clinic. **Frequently Asked Questions** ### **What kind of people is the spaced tooth composite suitable for?** - Those who have a short distance between their teeth. - People who observe oral and dental hygiene. - Those who do not smoke or hookah. - People who do not have bad dental habits such as grinding teeth or chewing objects such as pencils and pens. - Those whose teeth are not too crooked or irregular and have little crookedness. - Those whose teeth are healthy and without decay. ### **Which people are not suitable for composite teeth?** - People who do not observe oral hygiene. - Those who have a habit of grinding their teeth. - People who have gum diseases or gum and jawbone degeneration. - Those who have decayed or weak teeth. - People who have problems with jaw and mouth abnormalities. - People who are addicted to using tobacco. ### **What is the lifespan and shelf life of spaced tooth composite?** Spaced tooth composite usually lasts between 3 and 7 years. The lifespan and durability of the composite depends on the material of the composite, the skill of the dentist, and the aftercare. Also, proper care and regular visits to the dentist can increase the lifespan of the composite up to 10 years.