Diastema: Fixing The Gap Between Your Front Teeth

Posted on: 17 October 2018

If you feel that the gap between your two front teeth, or diastema, is a bit too wide for you, then you should know there are solutions available to fix that problem. The type of treatment that will work best for you depends on the cause and severity of the gap. Here is more information on what causes a diastema and some of the possible solutions.

Common Causes of Diastema

There are many causes of diastema, one of which is that your teeth are too small for your jawbone. This leads to teeth being more spread out with gaps. If you sucked your thumb or pushed your tongue up against your teeth when you swallowed when you were a child, that could also cause a gap. Sometimes excess tissue between your upper lip and gums can get in between the two teeth and push them apart. Gum disease and missing back or side teeth are another possible cause.

Potential Treatments for Diastema

If the gap is mostly minor and your teeth and gums have no other structural issues, then your dentist may suggest some of the following ways to close the gap:

Removable Retainer or Aligners

These work similarly to braces in that they slowly move the teeth back into place over time. They work great for those whose gaps are caused by an overall shifting of the teeth. Many of these devices are available in a clear form.

Bonding

Bonding is simply filling in the gap with a tooth-covered resin and then shaping it to look like your natural teeth. The upside to this is that it can usually be done in one day and no permanent changes to the teeth are needed.

Veneers

Veneers are actual pieces of porcelain placed over the teeth to cover up the gap. With veneers, your natural teeth will need to be permanently reshaped so that they fit and are not noticeable.

Labial Frenectomy

If your problem is excess tissue growing between the teeth, then that tissue can be removed with a labial frenectomy. This is often followed up with an orthodontic device, such as a retainer, to close the gap.

Even though having a gap in your front teeth is unlikely to cause a functional problem, it may cause you to be self-conscious about your appearance. Luckily, this problem can be fixed so that you can have a nice, straight smile you can be proud of. If you need to have a tooth gap fixed, or you just want to improve your smile's appearance, then contact a cosmetic dentistry clinic for more information.

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When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.