Diastema

Diastema teeth can affect both children and adults. However, it’s more common in children, and the gap may close when their permanent teeth come in. A midline diastema (gap between the two front teeth) is prevalent among the general population, regardless of race, gender, or age. However, gap teeth seem to be more common in certain racial groups, such as Black people.

Yes. It’s a common variation of normal dental development, and in most cases, it causes no problem.

In most cases, it won’t cause any oral health concerns. However, if it’s caused by periodontitis, you may need gum disease treatment.

Diastema has only one single symptom: a gap between your teeth. If you have healthy gums and teeth, it usually doesn’t causes any problems. But if gaps in teeth are caused by gum disease, you may notice pain, redness, swelling, or other gum disease symptoms.

Genetics plays a major role in having gap teeth. Other reasons include:

1- Missing teeth
2- Small teeth
3- Gum disease
4- An oversized frenum (the connective tissue band connecting lips and gums)
5- In rare cases, an abnormal swallowing reflex.

To understand the last point, let’s give you an example. When swallowing, your tongue should press against the roof of your mouth. If you press your tongue against your front teeth instead, this repetitive pressure can cause gap teeth over time. If your diastema teeth are caused by gum disease, it occurs because the infection erodes the jawbone, leading to gaps and loose teeth.

Your dental healthcare provider can easily diagnose it during a routing dental examination; no further testing is needed.

There are several solutions to fix gaps between teeth, depending on the underlying reason—whether it’s caused by gum disease or if it’s only a cosmetic issue.

If you have healthy teeth and gums and only want to close the gaps between your teeth, braces or clear aligners for teeth, such as Invisalign can move your teeth together.

If the issue is caused by gum disease, you’ll first need periodontal treatment to eliminate harmful bacteria. Once the infection is under control, you can discuss options with your orthodontist to address your gaped teeth.

Common gum treatments include:

1- Scaling and root planing: For mild gum disease, scaling and root planing—a deep cleaning—is the most common treatment. It’s similar to a regular cleaning, with the difference that you’ll be numb, allowing your dental provider to reach the bacteria hiding deep under your gums.

2- Gingival flap surgery: You’ll need gum surgery for moderate to advanced gum disease. During the procedure, an incision is made along your gum line to access your tooth roots by temporarily moving back your gums. After thoroughly cleaning your tooth roots, your gums are repositioned and stitched back. In instances where bone loss has occurred around a tooth, a dental graft may be employed by your surgeon to promote regeneration of bone tissue within the affected region.

If diastema is a result of genetics, prevention isn’t possible, as it’s a characteristic inherited from your parents or grandparents. However, by practicing good oral hygiene and regularly visiting your dentist, you can prevent infection-based diastema. We recommend scheduling an appointment with a dentist right away if you notice redness, swelling, bleeding, or other signs of gum disease.

Diastema typically doesn’t create problems unless it’s caused by infection. Thereby, if you have healthy gum and teeth, a simple gap between your teeth won’t negatively impact your oral health; it’s just a unique characteristic of your beauty.

In a healthy mouth, it won’t increase with age. If you notice your gaps becoming wider, schedule an appointment with a dentist right away, as it could be a sign of gum disease.

If your gaps bother you, schedule a consultation with an orthodontist to discuss your treatment options in detail. In general, we recommend seeing a dentist every six months for regular dental checkups.