Gap between front 2 teeth – midline diastema
By : Admin Dec 20,2022A midline diastema is a gap or spacing between the upper front 2 teeth ( central incisors)
Causes:
- Mismatch between teeth size and jaw size: Small size teeth in a big jaw will lead to spacing.
- Frenal attachment position: Frenum is a fold of skin extending from the lip to the gums. If this attachment is closer to the tooth, then it prevents the natural closing of the gap between teeth.
- Habits: such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting can lead to front teeth moving forward and then causing gap between teeth.
- Gums diseases: A gap is created between teeth when the supporting structures become weak due to gum diseases
Treatment : Treatment depends on the cause of the spacing, the age of the patient, the normal growth and development of the jaw and the gum condition.
- Braces or orthodontic treatment: Braces have wires and brackets that put pressure on teeth and slowly move them together, which closes a gap.
- Frenal sugery: If the gap is due to frenal attachment position, then a minor surgery to change the frenal attachment position is required. The frenum is cut and reattached away from the tooth.
- Gum Treatment: If the cause of spacing is gum disease , then corresponding gum treatment would be required.
- Cosmetic treatment – Tooth coloured filling (composite): If the gap is small, then it is closed by enlarging the two teeth proportionately using tooth coloured filling material called composite.
- Cosmetic Treatment- Veneers: Veneers are thin shells of tooth coloured materials used to cover the front surfaces of the tooth. Veneers are designed in such a way so as to close the gap between teeth.
