A diastema is a space or gap between two teeth, primarily caused by imbalance in the relationship between the jaw and the size of teeth. Diastemata are common for children and can exist in adult teeth as well. No treatments are required when distemata are in normal size. If they are too large, which will take a toll on appearance, then you will need to take a check-up to find out the cause and seek proper treatment accordingly. 

    According to dentists from AKJ Dental Hospital, the cause of the diastema varies from one patient to another, so do the treatment options. It can result from genetics as well as acquired factors. 

    1.Large diastemata between deciduous teeth are generally considered normal, good for the subsequent eruption of permanent teeth which are larger than deciduous ones. No treatments are needed, but keep an eye on their development. If they are really too large, an X-ray exam can be run to see whether or not there is supernumerary tooth. If yes, have it extracted.

    2.As for teenagers with congenitally sparse teeth, orthodontics can be sought for the closure of diastemata. Nowadays, there are various kinds of braces available, such as invisible appliance, lingual orthodontics, traditional metal wired braces and ceramic bracket. Generally speaking, it will take about one or two years, or even longer, to complete the orthodontic procedure, regardless of the braces you choose. The length of required time period depends on the complexity of the case. 

    3.When large tooth gaps happen in old people, it is a thorough check-up that is required to find out if it’s caused by periodontal diseases. There are usually symptoms like swollen and aching gums, bleeding or receding gums, alveolar resorption and exposed root, coming with periodontal diseases. In such cases, dental veneers or porcelain crowns can be applied following treatments to periodontal diseases. Usually it takes about one or two weeks to finish the restoration.

    In closing, braces are nice options to deal with congenital large diastemata, requiring roughly one or two years. In cases where diastemata result from dental diseases, you need to take according treatments to improve dental condition before seeking veneers or crowns to close the diastemata, taking about one or two weeks. 

    To be noted, though the duration of veneers or crowns restoration is much shorter, it can only be done for completely developed teeth, namely, adult teeth. No doubt, a full exam should be conducted upfront to see if your case meets the indications. Besides, both of veneer and crown restoration require the abrasion of tooth enamel in order to hold them in place, which is considered as a potential risk to dental healthy in the long run. Therefore, it’s suggested not to blindly seek veneer or crown restoration out of its shorter duration. 

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