wHY DO i HAVE A GAP BETWEEN MY FRONT TEETH?

​Some people have a visible gap between their front teeth, this is known as a diastema.
 
A diastema is common in children and usually closes naturally as they grow however if a diastema remains after all the adult teeth have erupted, it will usually require intervention to close it.
 
A diastema can be caused by a number of things, usually it’s due to a discrepancy between the size of the jaw and size of the teeth, the teeth are too small for the jaw resulting in teeth being spaced apart. Diastemas can also form due to poor habits like thumb sucking or prolonged use of a dummy in childhood.
 
Missing teeth also contribute to Diastema as the teeth can drift leaving spaces between them.
 
There are also anatomical factors such as large or tight labial frenum (the tissue that connects your lips and gum).
 
Closing the Gap
If you are an adult living with a diastema at the front teeth then you may have wondered what options are available for closing this gap.

• Replace missing teeth: this is an option if your gap is caused by missing teeth and these teeth could be replaced with a denture, bridge or dental implant.
• Composite Bonding: if the diastema is a result of the teeth being too small or misshapen then a white filling material known as composite could be bonded to the teeth to give them a more uniform shape and size.
• Veneers: if bonding is not suitable then porcelain veneers could be use to re-shape the teeth to close the gap.
• Braces/Aligners: an orthodontic appliance could be used to gently push the teeth closer together.
• Surgery: if the size of the labial frenum is the issue then a frenectomy could be performed prior closing the space, this would involve removing or reducing the frenum to allow the space to be closed.

 
If you have a diastema and you would like to learn more about having it closed get in touch to find out how we could help.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT