Diastema: Gaps Between Teeth

Diastema: The Best Treatment for Gappy Teeth

Diastema occurs when there is sufficient spacing between the teeth. 

These types of gaps can form anywhere in the mouth, but most commonly appear between the two upper front teeth.

Seen in both adults and children, the condition can have negative impacts on confidence as well as on your oral health.

Often a cosmetic issue for many patients, there are treatments and certain procedures to reduce the size or close the gap altogether.

What causes diastema?

There is no one clear cause of this oral condition, but it is often caused by several contributing factors.

It all relates to the size of your teeth and jaw in relation to each other, for example, if your teeth are too small for the jaw bone, then teeth are often spaced too far apart.

Due to genetics, diastema also commonly runs in families making it hereditary.

Suddenly formed gaps

This can understandably be very worrying.

Some cases of diastema can develop as a direct consequence of gum disease, which is an infection that takes place within your gums due to tartar and plaque buildup. 

The inflammation of the gums damages the supporting tissue beneath the teeth, which cause gaps or pockets to form in-between teeth. 

Read more about gum disease here.

Dental techniques to eradicate and close gaps

There are various types of treatments that can solve this issue and they span across various fields of dentistry from cosmetic to orthodontic.

Depending on the underlying cause of your gaps, treatment may not always be necessary, for a few it's not a gum disease problem but rather a cosmetic one.

That's why many patients who treat spaces in their mouth choose to do so purely for cosmetic reasons and wish to enhance the appearance of their smile.

Braces: A common solution

Traditional fixed braces are often the go-to solution for teens and young adults to close gaps. The metal wires and brackets put pressure on the teeth to slowly move them together.

For patients looking for discreet alternatives to braces may be pleased to hear about Invisalign, which uses clear removable aligners to straighten teeth over a shorter period of time. 

Cosmetic treatments

For patients who do not want braces and want something more instant can look into procedures like veneer application or dental bonding. 

Dental bonding uses a tooth-coloured composite resin, which fills in the gaps or can be applied directly on to teeth to conceal the imperfections.

If the gap is big enough, you may be a candidate for dental implants or dental bridges, which replaces missing teeth or can close a gap.

To learn more about your treatment options available to you, scroll down and see all your options.

Treatments designed to fix gaps in patients teeth