Published on March 25, 2022, Updated on March 28, 2022
Gaps in the teeth can make anyone worry about their smile and lose their self-esteem, which can have a bad effect on their life. Several people are afraid that they won’t be taken seriously, especially in a professional setting, which will make them look bad or even damage their image. A person with gapped teeth will most likely think of their appearance as unattractive. Apart from that, diastema results in the chance of having cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, bacteria buildup that can cause tartar or plaque. This is not the only negative thing about gaps in the teeth.
What is Diastema? | What Causes Gaps Between Teeth? | Treatments for Diastema
What is Diastema?
Spaces between 2 teeth are known as diastemas. They are most common between two incisor teeth, but they can happen between any two teeth that are close to each other. The American Dental Association (ADA) says that up to 25% of adults have some kind of problem with their teeth.
Another reason for the extra space is that there is a size mismatch between the jawbone and the tooth size. Gaps will show up when teeth are too small for the jawbone. However, if they are very big, they will get crowded. The size of one’s jaw bone is often in relation to and determined by one’s genetics.
A gap between teeth can be caused by a number of reasons, including the following:
- When one tooth is too little or has a different shape, it leaves a gap. A dental implant is a good dental replacement for a missing teeth for people who have tooth loss.
- There may have been gaps in the teeth because the person has a thumb-sucking habit, which is a common part of childhood habits.
- Spacing issues happen because of bad swallowing reflexes. When most people eat a portion of food, their natural instinct is to put their tongue against the roof of their mouth. However, others have a swallowing reflex that pushes their tongue up towards the front of their mouth when they eat. People who do this are called “tongue thrusters,” and when they put pressure on their tongues, they move their tongues forward, making a gap.
- One other possible reason is periodontal gum disease. In this type of condition, there will not be enough bone in the mouth to hold the teeth in the mouth in place, so they will fall out. In some cases, it leads to gum infection. In addition, gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that causes the gums to swell, which is what causes gingivitis. Inflammation results in bones breaking down. When a patient or an adult loses a lot of bone, it gets a little loose. As the teeth move, there may be a gap between them as a result.
What Causes Gaps Between Teeth?
There are a variety of ways wherein a tooth gap can develop. Some people have gaps in their teeth. Tooth gaps are usually caused by children thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, which happen a lot. Sucking their tongue against their teeth is another way where they can get a gap in their teeth. A child who takes a pacifier and sucks on his or her thumb may be at risk of getting diastema, which can have long-term dental health consequences. There may be a gap even though your baby teeth are healthy. If you don’t have them, it could happen.
If the labial frenum’s growth between two incisors, it may break off and leave a gap. This little flap is between the top lip and the gums. The labial frenum must be massive enough to make extra room. If the gum tissue falls below their normal position and between the central teeth, it will help in the prevention of closing gaps. Teeth that are too small for the space they’re in may grow and leave a gap. Gap teeth can be caused by many things and factors, including your dental habits.
Treatments for Gapped Teeth
When you come in for your first consultation, Dr. Hardy DMD will show you all the various techniques in order to close a gap in your teeth and will help you choose the most appropriate treatment option for you. There are many options for a gap teeth smile makeover at Hardy Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. You don’t have to worry.
Invisalign
Can invisalign correct gaps? Of course they can! In fact, because they are made just for you, they are a pain-free way to fill in dental gaps and have a lot of benefits to offer. There are many reasons to wear these clear aligners. Crooked teeth, malocclusion, as well as bite complications are just a few of the alignment issues that Invisalign clear aligners can fix. You’ll go to the dentist a lot that’s why there will be several visits. Your orthodontist will use these aligner trays to move your teeth closer together. Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment that changes a set of teeth braces every 2 weeks. The process is repeated many times to make sure your teeth are perfectly aligned. After that, you’ll need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their new place. Another solution is to fix gaps in teeth with invisible braces.
Porcelain Veneers
Can gap in teeth be fix veneers? They are thin porcelain shells that are glued to the front of your teeth for good. This shell is very good at covering up flaws. Porcelain veneers are one of the most famous cosmetic dentistry treatment options for diastema.
Tooth Bonding
Diastema closure with composite can close gaps between teeth in less than one hour. Your dentist will pick a composite resin bonding material that looks like your original teeth. He will then shape it with care to fill in the tooth gap. After the gap filling or front tooth filling, your teeth will look like they did when they were first put together.
Dental Crowns
Can a crown fix a gap? A tooth cap or crown can be used to cover all of a tooth and close teeth gaps. Crowns not only improve the quality and appearance of your teeth, but in addition, keep them in place because they are permanently fixed.
Frenectomy
Sometimes, the labial frenum (tissues that connect the upper lip to the gums) might get bigger and spread between the front teeth. Having gaps between teeth or frenum issues can happen because of this. As long as this is the case, your doctor will have to cut off the frenum via frenectomy. The goal of this treatment is to make the labial frenum smaller by making it smaller. After that, an orthodontics procedure must be conducted to fill in the space and make it look better.
Can braces reduce gap between teeth? There are many ways to close gaps in teeth, such as metal braces brackets and the rest of the types of orthodontic braces. On the other hand, you can also treat teeth gaps lingual braces! To get a diagnosis and discover more information about the several methods for fixing tooth gaps, visit or schedule an appointment now! In addition, if you have any questions, concerns, or issue about the cost in the dental clinic, how to go to our dental office location, what insurance plans we accept, or payment options, you can contact us. We can also tell you more about our other procedures, like dental cleanings, dentures, dental bridge, and dental implants surgery. Meet our dentists and let them help you get your confidence back! When your treatment is done, you will be sure to be happy and content when you leave our office. An open bite can be corrected using regular orthodontic therapy by an expert doctor. More about underbite and crossbite.