Gap Tooth

Started by MrSamrtGuy
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MrSamrtGuy

MrSamrtGuy

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Completely serious question: I had braces as a kid, but was undisciplined about my retainer. Have a gap in my front teeth. I wonder, if I would be lucky enough to get dental school interviewers, the interviewers would say "Are you ****ing kidding me? You can't be a dentist with a gap I could fly a 747 through!" Just trying to figure out if I should invest in invisalign in the next couple years.
 
diastema

if i was on the committee, i wouldn't care. I wouldn't call my teeth perfect by any means.
 
It's just fine.

We have quite a few relapse patients. Go for a consult and see if it is because of a periodontal issue that a frenectomy could solve. Sometimes a new retainer can suffice and fix the space.
 
You list pre-med and pre-dental, are you asking on the pre-med boards if having a health problem would preclude you from getting into medical school?
 
I know it doesn't really mean everything, but every time I tell a dentist that I want to go to dental school, they tell me to get braces -___-. My teeth are pretty straight for the most part too (at least that's what others have told me).
 
Eh…I’d say it’s maybe half to a little under half the size of Strahan’s gap. Noticeable but not comical.

And about a similar sized gap between the central and lateral incisors on either side as well (I’m not trying to sound smart, I just figured it was better to look up what they were called instead of sounding like an idiot). And a barely perceptible gap between lateral incisors and canines.
 
If you've had braces and your teeth are still mostly straight and your bite is fine, you might want to consider looking into dental bonding to fill in the gaps. Search "dental bonding gaps" on google image to see what I'm talking about.

(I'm obviously not an expert either, but it seems like a good option.)
 
I feel like it shouldn't matter much to interviewers. I mean, I haven't gone through the process, but I feel like it would be worse to have a lot of visible tooth decay than a small gap in your teeth haha
 
strep mutans said:
If you've had braces and your teeth are still mostly straight and your bite is fine, you might want to consider looking into dental bonding to fill in the gaps. Search "dental bonding gaps" on google image to see what I'm talking about.

(I'm obviously not an expert either, but it seems like a good option.)
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My dentist tells me I have a slight overbite and has suggested Invisalign, but it's not something I think will be financially feasible given the cost of a postbacc and working less and all the multitude of other expenses related to getting into school.
 
I see this as an opportunity to turn the situation around and inform your interviewer that having a gap between your teeth growing up was one of the motivations on wanting to become a dentist.
 
kyle nguyen said:
I see this as an opportunity to turn the situation around and inform your interviewer that having a gap between your teeth growing up was one of the motivations on wanting to become a dentist.
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Well, it's not like I had a rough childhood. Something like that, it would just sound like a joke. People always seem to think I'm being sarcastic.
 
MrSamrtGuy said:
Completely serious question: I had braces as a kid, but was undisciplined about my retainer. Have a gap in my front teeth. I wonder, if I would be lucky enough to get dental school interviewers, the interviewers would say "Are you ****ing kidding me? You can't be a dentist with a gap I could fly a 747 through!" Just trying to figure out if I should invest in invisalign in the next couple years.
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Whatever somebody will think about your "gap" they will keep to themselves... But get some ortho treatment for christs sake.... You are going to be a dentist! Worry about what your patients will think! They will be like, " why the hell would I get my teeth fixed by himher, when he needs shoe laces to floss"!
 
I wonder if mentioning the fact that I've never had a cavity or any problems with my teeth will improve my chances lol
 
I plan on getting work done in dental school. I heard it's half off of everything.

And for those planning to go into ortho it's a chance to rub shoulders with some specialist.
 
syedj94 said:
I wonder if mentioning the fact that I've never had a cavity or any problems with my teeth will improve my chances lol
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Doing so might backfire, as it may imply that you believe it is completely within one's control, and that you may judge your patients for having issues with their oral health. Also, effectively saying "I wouldn't be able to relate to my patients" is not a good idea.

Some factors that cause cavities can be controlled by the patient, but just as many cannot.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-some-people-get-mo/
 
strep mutans said:
Doing so might backfire, as it may imply that you believe it is completely within one's control, and that you may judge your patients for having issues with their oral health. Also, effectively saying "I wouldn't be able to relate to my patients" is not a good idea.

Some factors that cause cavities can be controlled by the patient, but just as many cannot.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-some-people-get-mo/
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Thanks for that! I just found out about my first cavity and I was pretty bummed about it. This helps :happy:
 
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