Diastema: how to correct a gap between teeth?

Attractive for some, complex for others, gap teeth are a constant source of doubt and attention, especially since some supermodels proudly show off their diastema and have made it one of their main features.

If you have doubts about your teeth and want to correct a gap in front teeth, we explain where this dental malformation comes from and how to correct it.

What is the meaning of diastema?

The teeth are aligned and joined together in normal, healthy teeth, 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 is usually associated with the blades, i.e. the separation of the 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 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. It may be necessary to treat it for health reasons or for purely aesthetic reasons.

Many adults choose to have it corrected for aesthetic reasons, but also because they feel discomfort when eating when food gets caught between the teeth more easily.

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 it 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.

It can also cause discomfort when eating, as food gets trapped between the teeth more easily. In these cases, excellent oral hygiene and flossing are necessary as food debris encourages plaque and decay, and also causes bad breath.

Treat your diastema with Impress

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), where 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.

Frenectomy for diastema closure

This is a minimally invasive surgery for diastema closure that consists of intervening on the brake 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 orthodontic during your treatment. The aligners are also removable and give you total freedom when eating and brushing your teeth.

At Impress we are specialists with more than 15 years of experience in invisible orthodontics 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 personalized treatment plan with Impress. We can’t wait to meet you at your closest clinic.