Diastema - a gap between the teeth
Diastema is a gap between the teeth; it can occur anywhere in the mouth, but most commonly appears between the two front teeth. Diastema is considered a malocclusion if the width of the gap is greater than 2 millimeters.
Diastema closure
Although a diastema is usually a purely cosmetic issue, it can sometimes be associated with gum disease.
Treatments associated with the possibility of removing a diastema include dental procedures such as:
dental bonding,
placement of porcelain veneers,
preparation of orthodontic braces.
It all depends on the patient's age, how large the gap between the teeth is, and the condition of the teeth.
Types of diastema
Dentists and orthodontists distinguish three types of diastema:
parallel – where the edges of the teeth are aligned parallel to each other,
divergent – the crowns are spread apart, and the roots are tilted towards each other,
convergent – in this case, the tooth crowns are tilted towards each other, and the roots are spread apart.
Closing or not closing a diastema is always an individual matter – for some people, it will be a requirement due to the condition of their teeth, while others must decide for themselves whether they want to get rid of the gap between their front teeth. A speech therapist, for example, may point out to parents the need to consult a dentist or orthodontist regarding their child's teeth.
Diastema in children
Diastema occurs in almost half of all children under the age of six. Children of this age have a diastema between their front teeth, which usually closes on its own by the time the child is eight to ten years old. However, if the space between the front teeth has not closed on its own after the eruption of the permanent teeth - canines and incisors - the child will most likely need dental or orthodontic help to close it.
Diastema as a trademark
As it turns out, although for many people a gap between the front teeth is a serious aesthetic problem related to the appearance of their own teeth, there are also famous people who have made this gap into a kind of image and a point by which they are more recognizable - especially in the world of singers, top models, or actors. There are also extreme cases where celebrities themselves decide to create a 'pseudo-gap' by filing down their front teeth.
