Causes of Diastema?

Diastema is quite simply a larger than normal gap between two teeth. Most often it is between the two front teeth. The wider gap is not harmful and is not treated for medical reasons. Rather, it is corrected if an individual does not care for the appearance of the gap and the perception it might have on their smile. There are a number of different causes of diastema and different treatments available as well. The ensuing benefits are cosmetic in nature.

The Different Causes of Diastema

First and foremost, your diastema could be caused by your genetics. This might mean your teeth are a bit too small relative to the size of your jaw. This would create gaps between the teeth. If you have teeth missing, it can result in the development of a diastema because teeth can and will shift into openings. The labial frenum is the soft tissue that extends from the inside of your upper lip to the gums above the upper front teeth. If this labial frenum is larger than normal it can cause a gap between the two front teeth.

Gum disease is painless and often goes undetected. If gum disease is allowed to advance and becomes inflamed, it will cause damage to the bone supporting the teeth, inevitably resulting in unwanted gaps.

An incorrect swallowing reflex can result in diastema. When you swallow, your tongue should find the roof of your mouth. If it instead pushes against the front teeth, over time, the pressure will create a gap. Habits in small children; such as thumb sucking, lip sucking, and tongue thrusting can all be causes for the development of diastema. Finally, when a child loses their baby teeth and primary teeth erupt usually diastema is corrected.

The Various Treatments for Diastema

Your first option is to keep the diastema. If you don’t care for the diastema you can have orthodontic treatment to close the gap. With the use of brackets and arch wires, pressure will be used to move the teeth. This might be an 18 month to two-year solution. You can have composite bonding done. This is when the dentist applies a tooth colored composite to the two teeth and then sculpts and shapes the material to close the gap. A third option is that of porcelain veneers applied to the two teeth to close the gap.

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