Diastema and Children
Diastema, or a gap between the front teeth, is a condition experienced by a large number of children in the United States. In fact, it is estimated that almost half of children under age six have diastema between the front teeth at some point.
Fortunately, for children, the condition is often temporary. But even if diastema is permanent and persists into adulthood, treatment options are available. If your dentist has recently told you that your child has diastema, you may be searching for more information about the condition and the potential causes.
Potential Causes of Diastema
Even though diastema is very common among children, it does help to have a good understanding of the potential causes of the condition. Here are a few causes of diastema:
- Natural development: Sometimes as the mouth and teeth develop, there is a size mismatch between the teeth and the jaws. If the jaw is large in proportion to the size of the teeth, there will be extra room in the mouth for the teeth to shift. This extra room and shifting may result in gaps between the teeth.
- Bad habits: Many young children have bad habits that their parents don’t realize can result in oral health issues. Tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking are bad habits that can lead to a gap developing between the teeth.
- Frenum issues: The frenum is the tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums. This tissue sits directly on top of the two front teeth. If this frenulum is oversized it can create a gap between the front teeth as they come in and develop.
Treatment Options for Diastema in Children
When parents first find out that their child has diastema they are concerned about treating the condition immediately. Fortunately, this gap will usually close by itself. For most children, the gap will close by the time they turn eight or nine. If the gap has not closed naturally by the time the adult teeth have erupted, then your child may need a dental treatment to help close the gap. If your child has diastema, your dentist will likely recommend that you watch and wait until their adult teeth start to come in. Once the adult teeth start to come in, there are a few options available to help close or correct the spacing, including:
- Frenectomy: A frenectomy is a surgical procedure where the piece of tissue, which may be creating the gap, is removed. Once the frenum is removed, the teeth will grow together naturally.
- Dental braces: Although braces are an investment, they can help close the diastema gap, as well as properly align the other teeth in the mouth. Braces are a good investment if there are multiple issues with alignment in the mouth.
- Cosmetic dentistry options: There are several different cosmetic dental treatments that can be used to treat gaps between teeth, including dental veneers or dental bonding.
If your child has a diastema, rest assured knowing many children in the United States have the condition. Be sure to have a discussion with your dentist and reach out to them with any questions you have.
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