Diastema & Children

“Diastema” is the medical term for a gap between the teeth. While other species may be genetically predisposed to a diastema between more concealed teeth, like molars or incisors, in humans, a diastema is more commonly found between the two front, top teeth. Some people have more than one diastema; the plural of “diastema” is “diastema.” Most people, however, who are troubled by a diastema have a space between their two top, front teeth. Many children display this diastema, often before the age of six, and in many cases, the diastema will close as the child’s facial bone structure continues to develop and the adult teeth erupt. If your child’s adult teeth are delayed, or if their eruption doesn’t lead to the closing of their diastema, you may want to consult a dental health professional to determine how to help your child fix her or his diastema. Because most appearances of diastema are a result of natural development, there’s usually no need to be concerned about your child’s diastema if their adult teeth have not yet erupted.

Sometimes, the size of people’s jaws and the size of their teeth aren’t in proportion to each other. Usually, this corresponds to the rates of development of each of the body’s systems, and, much of the time, the separate components of the body catch up to one another and everything evens out. This means that if your child’s diastema is a result of natural development, it may resolve itself over time. Some diastema are a result of bad habits, like sucking the thumb, or other fixated tongue or mouth movements that affect the palate and jaw, like habitual thrusting of the tongue. These diastema require orthodontic treatment, and they may reappear if the negative habit isn’t modified or discontinued. In some children, the small piece of auxiliary gum tissue that attaches the upper lip to the upper gum is exaggerated in size; if this piece of tissue, called a “frenum,” is too large, it may prevent the teeth from moving together. This issue is easily resolved with a procedure called a “frenectomy,” in which that small piece of tissue is removed, allowing the teeth to gradually reunite.

If your child’s diastema persists after the adult teeth have erupted, and if the appearance bothers your child, they may be a good candidate for braces or another orthodontic treatment, like Invisalign. Talk to your dentist, who can refer you to an orthodontist and help you review options for your child. If a diastema persists after the adult teeth have erupted, it may be related to larger aesthetic or mechanical concerns, in which case orthodontic treatment will be beneficial in many ways. Traditional braces and similar orthodontic treatments may help your child address other alignment issues while also closing a diastema, thereby improving both the appearance and the overall mechanics of the mouth and teeth. If your child’s only concern is a diastema, you may determine that a cosmetic solution, like a dental veneer or dental implant, is the better option. Your child’s dental health professional will work with you and your child to determine the best course of action for a persistent diastema that doesn’t resolve with the eruption of the adult teeth.

More on Diastema : What is Diastema?