What Is A Diastema?

A diastema is the medical term for a gap between two teeth. This condition commonly occurs between the top two front teeth known as the upper incisors. The gap between these teeth can occur for a few reasons:

The size of the teeth in relation to jaw can have can be a cause. It can occur because of the jaw being too big for the teeth, leaving room for gaps. Having teeth too big for your jaw would result in crowded or crooked teeth, not a gap.

Another main cause would be undersized or missing upper lateral incisors, which are the teeth on either side of your upper incisors. The front two teeth will grow apart to meet the incisor on either side, leaving a gap between them. 

Other common causes are due to the gum tissue around the teeth. The labial frenum is the thin tissue that connects from the top inside of your upper lip to just above the center of upper incisors. A pronounced labial frenum can grow between the teeth and cause them to separate.

It is extremely common for young children to have a gaps between their teeth. A diastema cannot really be determined until adulthood, when the teeth have fully grown in. Sometimes, taking care of your teeth as a child may help ensure that the adult teeth grow in evenly.

How To Treat A Diastema

A diastema itself is by no means a harmful medical condition. A dentist will help determine whether it may be caused by a serious orthodontic issue. Generally, it is simply cosmetic, and correcting it would depend on the individuals personal perception of it.

Either way, it's beneficial to know what options are available. There are a few main procedures that are used to close the gap. All can guarantee results, but deciding between them depends on the personal preference of the individual.

Braces are a great way to take care of any orthodontic problem. The procedure will leave the natural teeth intact, and merely rearrange them as needed. However, braces are required on the whole row of teeth, to ensure they all move into position. It also can be a lengthy process, and is by no means a quick and easy fix.

If your upper incisors are small, you can widen the tooth to eliminate gap between them. This can be done with a bonding, veneers, or crowns. Bonding works by putting a composite between either tooth to extend them. Veneers are a thin layer which covers the front of your tooth to widen them. Crowns cap the entire tooth and can be fitted at any needed size.

If the teeth are separated because of a large labial frenum, a frenectomy surgery can help eliminate the problem. This surgery is successful with children, because the tooth will grow naturally together. Adults may have to opt for another method, as the gap will not close on its own.

If you suffer from diastema, and you are looking for a cosmetic dentist located in the Los Angeles area, call Dr. Eddie Siman at Millennium Dental for a consultation today.

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