What is diastema? Causes, fixes and more

Diastemas are part of modern pop culture, with the likes of Georgia Jagger and Lara Stone making them a sign of beauty. But what are the implications of having a gap in your teeth, and how do you correct it?

If you have doubts about your teeth and a gap you want to correct, we explain where this dental malformation comes from and your treatment options.

What is a diastema?

The teeth are aligned; however diastema is when the teeth are separated. This should not be confused with a gap due to the absence of a tooth. It can be any tooth, although it's usually associated with a gap in your front teeth - your two upper incisors.

What causes gaps between teeth?

There are many factors that can cause gaps between teeth which include genetics, family inheritance or bad habits.

Teeth that are too small

A question of genetics; teeth that are too small cannot take up all the space available in the jaw. This is why gaps between teeth appear. If someone in your family has small teeth, it is likely that you have them too and that your children will have the same problem when they grow up.

Jaw size that is larger than the teeth

A disproportion between the size of the jaw and the size of the teeth can also cause diastema. In this case, as in the previous case, the spaces are not localised and the problem affects the entire dentition in general.

Overdeveloped lip brace

We all have two lip braces; this is a membrane that connects the lip to the gum at the bottom and top of the mouth. In some cases, the upper lip brace is overdeveloped; it takes up too much space in the gum and directly affects the position of the two upper incisors.

Bad tongue habits

Thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or constantly pressing the tongue against the teeth can affect the teeth and cause them to separate.

Diastema by age group

Diastema in children

If you notice that your child's teeth are spaced out, don't panic! It is normal to see a gap in baby teeth, and no treatment is necessary at this stage. The same is true for a gap in toddler teeth and gaps in children’s front teeth.

This is because babies, toddlers, and children’s primary teeth are smaller than permanent teeth. Spacing at this age is therefore positive, as it means that the permanent teeth will have enough space to develop.

Diastema in adults

Once the permanent teeth have erupted, the diastema can be, as we have already seen, localised or generalised. 

Many adults seek dental care for corrective treatment. The reality is that treating diastema is not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because the discomfort of getting food caught between the teeth can lead to caries. 

Is diastema bad?

We remind you that not all cases of diastema are a health problem, but when they are, it is important to treat them as soon as possible.

Diastema can cause an imbalance in the jaw and in the force exerted on the teeth. This imbalance can lead over time to wear and tear of the enamel, gums, and bone structure, as well as poor positioning of the teeth.

How to close gap in teeth?

While the question ‘how to fix gap teeth?’ may appear simple to answer, it all depends on the cause of the problem. That is why it is important to diagnose the source of the problem first, in order to find an appropriate and successful treatment.

Crown for gap in teeth

It is a quick and effective solution to treat certain cases of diastema. They are recommended in certain situations where orthodontics alone cannot treat the problem.

For example, in patients with small teeth (generalised spaces), crowns will have to be placed on the vast majority of teeth in order to obtain an aesthetic result.

Crowns can also be used to correct crow's feet when there is a localised gap. These are made of porcelain or composite and are perfectly adapted to the colour and size of the teeth.

Please note that crowns are effective in correcting diastema when teeth are already aligned and orthodontic treatment is not necessary.

It may also be an option to use a dental implant if the tooth is completely missing. 

Frenectomy for diastema closure

This is a minimally invasive surgery for diastema closure that consists of intervening on the frenulum of the upper lip, which is responsible for the separation of the teeth. After this procedure, in most cases, the patient has to opt for orthodontic treatment to correct the blades.

Diastema closure orthodontics

Most cases require orthodontic treatment to eliminate the spaces between the teeth. Some patients may also require a combination of treatments to achieve good results; orthodontics and crowns, frenectomy and orthodontics, etc.

Today there are many orthodontic options to treat tooth spacing: metal brackets, ceramic brackets, clear brackets, lingual braces, or invisible aligners. The total duration of orthodontic treatment for diastema is determined by the complexity of each patient's case.

How to fix gaps in teeth without braces?

Clear aligners can efficiently and discreetly close gaps in teeth. They are invisible, so no one will be able to tell that you are wearing orthodontics during your treatment. The aligners are also removable and give you total freedom when eating and brushing your teeth.

We're specialists in invisible orthodontics with more than 15 years of experience, and we use state-of-the-art technology in our transparent aligners to offer our patients the best results.

We offer different types of treatment, with everything included, depending on the complexity of your case. Our prices are like our aligners, transparent.

If you want to smile with confidence again and have a healthy mouth, you can contact us. We invite you to a first consultation without obligation to discover your personalised treatment plan with Impress. We can’t wait to meet you at your closest clinic.