What is Diastema?

Diastema is the technical dental term for the space or gap between the two front teeth. You may not be surprised to hear that the condition is extremely common among American children and adults. There are many possible causes of diastema, including missing teeth, unequal tooth sizes, or an oversized labial frenum. If you or your child has diastema and you are interested in having the condition treated, you should discuss treatment options with your dentist. Below is a bit more information on diastema and available treatment solutions.

Treatment for Diastema

Fortunately, there are a variety of dental treatment options available for diastema. In some cases, multiple oral issues need to be treated to properly correct the spacing between the teeth. If you are comfortable with orthodontics, this is a popular approach. However, if you are not, you may be able to treat your diastema with cosmetic approaches. The more common treatment approaches include:

  • Braces: A “set” of braces can be worn to fix a diastema. It is common for braces to be worn between 6 months to a couple of years depending on the state of the teeth and the size of the spacing. Braces slowly pull the teeth into place, rearranging them into perfect alignment.
  • Removable orthodontics: If the space between the teeth is smaller and less severe, it may be possible to treat it with a removable orthodontic treatment option, such as Invisalign. Removable orthodontics work very similar to braces, by realigning the teeth to eliminate spacing. Similarly, the removable orthodontic options will need to be worn for a prescribed amount of time, usually for several months up to several years.
  • Dental Implants: If the cause of the spacing is a missing tooth, a dental implant will be the best treatment option. A dental implant is a small metal post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone. The implant acts similar to the root of a natural tooth. Once the jawbone has healed and provides a strong foundation for the implant, an artificial crown is attached.
  • Dental Bonding: Bonding is a very affordable cosmetic solution to minimize gaps between teeth. Bonding is more commonly used to treat crack or chipped teeth, however it is becoming more common for its use in fixing spacing issues. The bonding can be applied to the tooth on each side of the gap, increasing their size in order to minimize the space between.
  • Dental Veneers: Dental veneers are a popular and effective solution to correcting any aesthetic issue with teeth. Veneers are traditionally custom-made to fit the specific needs of the patient. Veneers designed to reduce diastema are slightly wider than the natural teeth, in order to minimize the space between teeth.

The First Step to Treating Diastema

If you have diastema and have decided to pursue one of the treatment options available, the first place to start is to have a conversation with your dentist. Your dentist will help you decide which treatment option is best for you, your oral health needs, and is within your budget.

More on Diastema : Causes of Diastema