How to Fix Diastema?

When you close your eyes and imagine your perfect smile, are you envisioning a straight, white row of teeth? Does your current smile have gaps or spacing problems that prevent your vision from coming true? It is a very common occurrence for people to have gaps or diastema between their teeth and most often, between their two front teeth.

You may have a diastema for a variety of reasons: you sucked your thumb as a child, you experience tongue thrusting when swallowing, you have a family history, you have missing teeth, you have an overgrown labial frenulum, you have untreated gum disease, or your teeth are too small for your jaw bone.  Both adults and children can have spaces between their teeth so the treatment for the diastema depends on your age and the cause.

Orthodontic Treatments and Gap Solutions

If your diastema is just one of the dental issues you are trying address like straightening your teeth and correcting an overbite, the dentist may suggest braces.  Depending on your issues and the severity of them, you may wear the braces for six months to two years to pull the teeth into proper alignment.  Once the braces are removed, the dentist usually uses an orthodontic retainer to keep the teeth in their new place and prevent the treated issues from returning.

For less severe cases or less sizeable diastemas, the dentist may be able to offer you Invisalign® or a similar straightener.  This type of orthodontic treatment moves the teeth into place without gaps over a period of time.  Again, after using the trays, retainers are used to keep the teeth in place and prevent the diastema from returning.  Retainers allow for the teeth and gums to heal in their new place while prohibiting any additional movement.

Other Treatments To Fix Gapped Teeth

Depending on how large your diastema is and your aversion to braces or Invisalign, your dentist may have additional options to change your smile to one without gaps.  There are cosmetic and restorative treatments to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted.

If you have lost teeth from gum disease or your diastema is the size of a tooth, the dentist may be able to use a dental implant.  The dentist will surgically place a titanium rod below your gums and attach a false tooth to a fixture on top of the implant.

If your gap is from damaged teeth, the dentist may be able to use dental bonding to correct the crack or chip.  Some dentists have been successful in widening teeth with dental bonding to minimize gaps.

For diastema or other visual flaws, people have long used dental veneers to improve the overall look of individual teeth or even complete smiles.  Dentists can use veneers to widen your natural teeth and eliminate gaps between them to give you a new smile.

Finally, if your teeth have suffered damage and no longer functioning well, the dentist may recommend a dental crown.  The crown can be fitted to cover your teeth and cover the gap.

Take some time to talk to the dentist about your diastema and what treatment plans are the best for you and your smile.

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