Why is there a gap between your front teeth?

A gap between the front teeth is not always a problem

A diastema is the space left between two teeth, and it shows most clearly between the upper front teeth. As long as nothing is being damaged, the teeth are firm and the gum is healthy, the gap is not a disease in itself. Some people treat it as part of their smile and leave it alone, others would rather have it closed. Both are reasonable decisions.

What lies behind the gap

A gap between the front teeth rarely has a single cause. Most often the explanation is a simple one: the teeth are narrow for the jaw they sit in, and the difference shows up as a gap. Beyond that, a few situations come up regularly.

• Teeth that are narrow for the jaw, so the arch is not filled
• A thick band running from the upper lip down between the two front teeth
• A lateral incisor that is missing from birth or noticeably small
• A habit of pushing the tongue against the front teeth when swallowing
• Gum disease that weakens the support around the teeth and lets them drift

In children the gap often closes on its own

A gap between the upper front teeth is a normal sight while the baby teeth are still in place and while the adult teeth are coming through. As the lateral incisors and canines arrive, they push the front teeth towards each other and the gap narrows on its own in most children. This is why waiting until the teeth have finished changing is more usual than treating early. If the gap is very wide, or a tooth looks unable to come through, how long to wait is settled with the dentist who sees the child.

The lip band can hold the gap open

The thin fold that joins the inside of the upper lip to the gum is called the labial frenum. When it is thick and reaches down between the two front teeth, it can stop them coming together. Whether it plays a part is judged by examination and, where needed, an x-ray. If a small procedure on the band is called for, it is usually planned alongside the treatment that moves the teeth; done on its own it tends to leave the gap where it was.

A gap that appears later is a different matter

A gap that has been the same width for years is not the same as one that opens in adult life. When inflammation weakens the bone and gum that hold a tooth in place, teeth can drift forwards and gaps appear where there were none. Bleeding gums, a bad taste or smell, gums that pull back and teeth that feel loose may go with it. Anyone noticing a change like this should seek dental care without delay: closing the gap while the cause underneath is still running only brings it back.

Weighing up how to close it

There is more than one way to close a gap, and the choice follows its width, its cause and the state of the teeth. Orthodontic treatment moves the teeth into place and keeps your own enamel, but it takes time. Building the teeth wider with composite gives a result in a single visit, though the margins can stain and the work needs renewing. Porcelain veneers give a longer-lasting surface but call for some of the tooth surface to be reduced. Which route suits you is settled with the dentist who examines your mouth.

Closing a gap does not simply erase the distance; it changes the width of both front teeth, the bite and the line of the smile together.

Bu içerik genel bilgilendirme amaçlıdır ve muayene yerine geçmez.