Did you ever notice a gap in between the teeth of a kid? Diastema is the medical name for this gap in between the teeth. Usually, it is visible in kids. This gap is common between the two front teeth. The gap goes away in few years in most cases. But if the gap in front teeth doesn’t vanish with age, your kid might need to visit an orthodontist. However, you don’t need to worry about this condition. Almost 50% of kids have gapped front teeth in their early years.
You can prevent diastema in kids by being aware of the following causes of diastema:-
- Size Mismatch of Teeth
In some kids, the natural growth of teeth and jaw don’t match. The jaw gets formed in more significant size. With a bigger jaw than the teeth, the teeth grow at a distance from each other.
- Overgrowth of Gum Tissue
Due to unknown reasons, sometimes, gum tissues overgrow. This overgrowth is between teeth. The reason for overgrown gum tissue can be gingival hyperplasia.
- Oversized Labial Frenum
There is a tissue connecting gum inside the upper lip. It is called labial frenum. Sometimes this tissue is more extensive than its usual size. This oversized tissue sometimes causes gapped front teeth.
- Childhood Bad Habits
Kids get used to thumb sucking and tongue thrusting since they are toddlers. These bad habits cause intervention in the expected growth of teeth. As a result, your kid may face a gap in front teeth.
- Temporary Diastema
In some kids, the gap of the teeth might vanish on its own. It happens when they lose their baby teeth. The permanent teeth or the new teeth grow closer and without any gap.
If you see any of the causes or symptoms in your child, you should contact a trusted orthodontist at the earliest.
Orthodontist will treat your kid in the following ways: –
- Braces Treatment
Braces are generally known for treating misaligned and crooked teeth. But they can be an excellent treatment for diastema as well. The bracket and wires of traditional braces will gradually push the teeth closer to fill the gap in front teeth. The size of the gap will be deciding factor for the duration of braces treatment. It can be anything from 6 months to 2 years.
Your child will need to wear mouth retainers for some time after braces treatment. The retainers will ensure the permanent cure of diastema.
- Invisalign
You might’ve heard about Invisalign being a modern and convenient version of traditional metal braces. It is made up of a transparent soft material. Invisalign works in the same way as braces. But being made up of transparent material, they are not visible to others. Invisalign are capable of curing gap in front teeth permanently.
- Treatment Not Required
In case the orthodontist recognizes the gapped teeth to be temporary, your child doesn’t need to go through any treatment.
Above mentioned three options are the prominent treatment for a gap in front teeth. Apart from that, the orthodontist might suggest dental Bonding, dental veneers to close gaps, dental crowns, and, if needed, dental implants.
Above mentioned three options are the prominent treatment for a gap in front teeth. Apart from that, the orthodontist might suggest dental Bonding, dental veneers to close gaps, dental crowns, and, if needed, dental implants.
Conclusion
The type of treatment for diastema depends on the size of the gap in the front teeth. But there are sure short cures for this issue. However, the lasting of treatment partly depends on your child as well. After the treatment, they should not return to the habit of thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. It would be best to keep a vigil on them to make sure they are not harming the treatment with their bad habits.
Author Bio:
Emily Taylor found the perfect fit for herself as the Online Marketing Manager at Thurman Orthodontics in Fresno CA as she believes that a great smile does more than just make a person look great – it makes them feel great as well. The power of a smile has always been a mystery to Emily, and she loves researching and writing about it. She loves to write about everything to do with a healthy bite and a beautiful smile – weather is it ways to achieve it or the importance of it in the various aspects of life. What brings a big smile on Emily’s face is her family and surfing. She also likes to bake, and her children and co-workers call her the cookie fairy!
