Did you know that the gap between your two upper front teeth has a name? It’s a midline diastema. You might not like yours, but some people find them attractive. Celebrities such as Jessica Hart, Natalie Cole, Anna Paquin, and Lauren Hutton have made gaps part of their signature look.
Diastemas are common, especially among children. Temporary gaps appear as baby teeth fall out. Most of these spaces close naturally as the permanent teeth reach their final positions.
A permanent diastema is a gap that remains after the eruption of adult teeth. Here’s what you should know about the treatment options for closing an unwanted gap, or diastema closure:
Permanent spaces between teeth have various causes:
- Widely spaced teeth are often the result of a mismatch between the size of the teeth and the jawbone.
- A gap may be caused by a large labial frenum, which is a thick layer of skin between the two front teeth that connects your lips and gum.
- However, they may also be caused by personal habits such as tongue thrusting or abnormal tongue or swallowing movements.
Fortunately, diastemas usually cause no complications to your dental health. Most people who choose diastema closure do so for cosmetic purposes.
How a space is treated has a lot to do with its causes.
There are several types of diastema treatment available today:
Repositioning with Dental Braces — When teeth are attractive and healthy, repositioning is the ideal treatment because it does not involve any loss of enamel.
Restoring with Cosmetic Dentistry — If a midline diastema is the only dental problem, patients can achieve immediate results with veneers or dental bonding.
Dental Surgery — In the case where a large labial frenum is the cause of your diastema, dental surgery may be needed prior to orthodontic treatment. It may be necessary to perform a frenectomy.
As with all cosmetic dental procedures, diastema closure treatments must be carefully planned. Contact Dr. Nishan Halim, cosmetic dentist in DC, to schedule an appointment and find out which option is best for your situation.
Remember, beautiful teeth are healthy teeth!
Dr. Nishan Halim