You may not be familiar with the word diastema, but chances are you have seen many of them in your life. Most frequently between the top two front teeth, a diastema is a gap or space. Some people choose to appreciate the teeth they were born with, and sport their gaps proudly. However, many people are very uncomfortable having a significant space between teeth – especially the front ones. Fortunately, for people that feel self-conscious about having a diastema there are several treatment options. East Deerfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda will share them with you.
Causes of Diastemas
Why do you suppose that some people end up with a prominent gap in between their front teeth? Children often have natural gaps in their primary teeth to make room for the permanent ones that will one day erupt. However, there are adolescents, teens, and adults who have size discrepancies in teeth that cause a permanent diastema. Another cause might be an oversized labial frenulum (the skin that connects gum tissue to your lip. Misalignment or protrusion of teeth can also cause spaces in teeth.
Treatment Options for Gaps
If a thick or oversized labial frenulum is the cause of your diastema, it’s possible you could be helped with a minor surgical procedure called a maxillary frenectomy. Local anesthetic is administered so that your frenulum can be reduced which will allow your gap to close on its own. Sometimes, braces will be necessary as a follow-up procedure for complete closure. For other people, orthodontics on their own will suffice to close gaps. If not, crowns, bridges or dental bonding could also be viable options to making your teeth appear evenly spaced out.
Invisalign from Your East Deerfield Dentists
If you are interested in Invisalign, dental bonding, crowns, or a consultation for a diastema, contact our East Deerfield dentist office by calling 413-772-0842. We are happy to provide comprehensive dentistry to patients in the Western region of Massachusetts, close to the surrounding states of CT, NH, VT, and NY. Our patients come from the surrounding towns of Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne Falls, Turners Falls, Northfield, Amherst, Northampton, the 01301 zip code and surrounding neighborhoods.