Diastema & Children

A diastema, or a gap between two teeth, is most apparent when it appears between the front two teeth.  Almost half of all children under the age of six will have a diastema in this exact place in their mouths.  Often the diastema will close on its own or resolve itself by the time the child is eight or nine.  The combination of the child’s small baby teeth and the increasing size of their growing jaw is improved as the adult canine and incisor teeth grow into place.  If the diastema persists after these adult teeth have erupted, then you may want to talk to the dentist about treatment options.

Depending on the cause of your child’s diastema, the dentist may have more than one treatment option to close the persistent gap between the teeth.  The dentist will need to first determine the cause from one of the following:

Genetics – The child may have inherited small teeth and a large jawbone resulting in a gap or multiple gaps between teeth as the small teeth are unable to fill in the jaw proportionally.  The extra room in the mouth from small teeth allow the teeth to move around and settle distantly from each other.  This is a natural development and can’t be avoided with changed behavior or habits.

Maxillary Labial Frenum – The tissue that connects the lip to the gums or the labial frenum may be oversized or over developed.  With the increased amount of tissue, the teeth can be pushed apart and the most common diastema between the two front teeth is a result.

Bad Habits – If your child sucks their thumb or lip, the teeth can be pushed forward and out of place.  If this habit persists as the adult teeth erupt, the child can permanently displace their teeth.  Additionally, habits like tongue thrusting or poor swallowing reflexes create added pressure on the teeth instead of the roof of the mouth.  Over time, the teeth shift forward and have gaps between them.  The dentist can treat the diastema but changed behavior is important in order to avoid future repeat diastema treatment.

Closing Your Child’s Diastema

If your child has a bad habit that caused the diastema or a combination of a bad habit with genetic, the dentist can work to close the diastema.  When the teeth are too small for the jawbone, the dentist can look to veneers or bonding to correct the gap. If your child is born without an adult tooth or has some developmental issues with adult teeth failing to erupt, the dentist can use dental implants to complete the smile.

When the patient is young, a treatment like orthodontic braces or retainers can be helpful to move the teeth into place over time and to keep them in place.  Braces are particularly helpful if there is more than one diastema or there is more than one issue to address.

If your child’s maxillary labial frenum is overdeveloped, the dentist can perform a simple frenectomy to reduce the amount of tissue pushing the teeth apart.  The teeth would be able to grow together over time minimizing the diastema.