Diastema & Children
A diastema is just a space between two teeth. They are not uncommon in adults, many adult celebrities choosing to embrace their diastema!
It is very common for children to have gaps in their teeth. Most of the time, gaps will close themselves by the time a child is eight or nine but if it is still there once the adult anterior teeth are fully erupted, you may consider orthodontic treatment to close the gap.
What causes a diastema in children?
There are a few things that can cause a gap between the two front teeth in kids. Some of those include:
- Frenum: There is a small strip of connecting tissue called a frenum or frenulum at the upper lip, lower lip, and under the tongue. If your child has a diastema, it could be due to the frenum located at the upper lip. If it is too large, it can keep the teeth from coming together.
- Bad habits: Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting are two culprits that can cause a diastema. Tongue thrusting is when the tongue pushes against the teeth during swallowing. Most babies have a natural tongue thrusting reflex but it usually disappears by the age of six months. If it does not, your child may develop a diastema.
- Development: If your child’s teeth are too small for their jaw, there will be extra space for the teeth to shift and that can cause a diastema.
Correcting Your Child’s Diastema
There are a couple of options available for closing the gap between a child’s teeth. If their diastema is due to a frenum issue, a frenectomy can be performed to remove the tissue that is creating a gap and allow the teeth to grow together naturally.
Orthodontia is another way to close gaps in the teeth. Those children need braces at some point anyway so it could be beneficial to the overall health of their teeth to undergo orthodontic treatment. If your child is resistant to braces, clear aligner therapy works very well to close gaps in the teeth.
There is also cosmetic dentistry available that can close a diastema. Composite bonding can be used to change the shape of the teeth and bring them closer together closing the gap. You may also consider veneers which would be slightly larger than your child’s natural teeth to close the gap.
A diastema It’s not a serious concern unless it is causing harm to your child’s teeth. As they grow older, they may even like it and want to keep it! However if it is concerning you or causing any other trouble with your child's oral health, speak with their dentist about correcting it.
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