Some gaps are barely noticeable to the naked eye and some are more visible especially if they’re in the front of the teeth. The good news is there is no major harm in someone having this gap but for others, it may make them embarrassed or even shy to freely open their mouths when around people. Anything that makes you feel weary should be rectified or treated if there is a way to do so.

At iSmile Orthodontics we treat a number of patients in various parts of dentistry, often cosmetic dentistry is a part of the field where we hope to make someone feel better about a feature or dental problem that bothers them. Like mentioned, even though Diastema is not harmful it can make someone unhappy if they don’t like the gap in their teeth

What causes someone to have Diastema

A difference in the size of your jaw bones and the size of your teeth can cause extra space in between your teeth or cause teeth crowding. Sometimes your teeth are undersized, causing your main front teeth to separate or develop a space.

Bad habits can also be a cause, some children grow up sucking on their thumb or a favorite finger, this pulls the teeth forward and causes a gap. Most of us aren’t aware that there’s a correct an incorrect way of swallowing our food but in the case of Diastema, swallowing incorrectly can also cause a problem. An action referred to as the tongue thrust is the incorrect way of swallowing. In this instance, your tongue pushes against your front teeth and over time that pressure will cause spaces to form. The correct way of swallowing is the resting or pressing against your palate which doesn’t then interfere with your teeth.

Loose teeth also form spaces or gaps. A form of gum disease which is called Periodontal gum disease is when a bone that supports the tooth or teeth is lost, this all results in the teeth having no support and becoming loose. In time they form spaces

What about children? Does your child have gaps even though they don’t have a thumb sucking habit? Don’t despair, often children’s teeth grow out with gaps but as they grow older their baby teeth fall out and the teeth that grow out do so normally

Is your gap forever?

 If your teeth and jaw aren’t aligned as they should be then the gap you have could be for a lifetime unless you choose the option surgery. Maintain good oral health is very important when one is dealing with Diastema. For some people the spaces aren’t a health hazard and so they don’t see it as a problem, especially since its not a dental or gum disease. What if though you don’t like the gap or gaps, what are your options?

We have treatment options for you!

At iSmile Orthodontics we have a number of options you could consider. Let’s consider a few

Braces. This is a very popular option for most adults and children, to rectify the alignment of the teeth we usually highly recommend metal braces on the top and bottom of the teeth. The braces will be reviewed and rewired every 6 to 8 weeks to ensure that they are tightening or pulling back the teeth the way they should be. In terms of budget this a good viable option

Invisalign. This new technology is great for teens and for adults who don’t want any visibility. The appliance is custom made and is applied directly to the teeth, giving you the same effectiveness of normal braces. This is also a good option for someone who is shy, who might feel that the braces will draw attention to them

False teeth. Due to sickness or even injury, adult teeth may never grow back in and so you might need a more permanent solution. The false teeth we use for our patients are custom made and fit in perfectly and seamlessly into the existing row of their teeth.