A gap between the two upper front teeth is called a diastema. It’s common, and gaps can show up between any other teeth too. Plenty of them are harmless. Others come from gum disease or a tooth that’s gone missing, so the first job is working out which kind you have. Closing the gap comes after that.
Dr. Madhuri Khoday, orthodontist at Dental Clinic in Bangalore, explains: “Patients ask me how quickly a gap can be closed. I’d ask why it’s there first. A gap from a small tooth and a gap from gum disease get different treatment, and if the cause stays, the gap usually opens up again.”
What Causes Gaps Between Teeth?
Some people have a gap from childhood. Others notice one in their thirties or forties. Which treatment holds depends on the cause.
Tooth and jaw size: Small teeth in a wide jaw leave space, and so does a peg-shaped lateral incisor. These gaps don’t close on their own.
Frenum or extra tooth: A thick band of tissue under the upper lip can sit between the front teeth and keep them apart. An extra tooth in the same spot does the same. Dentists still argue about how much the frenum matters.
Gum disease: When the bone around the teeth shrinks, the teeth drift. If a gap opens or widens in adulthood, get your gums checked, especially if they’re receding.
Habits: Tongue thrusting, thumb sucking and nail biting all push on the front teeth. Over the years that can open a space.
Children’s gaps often shrink as the adult teeth come in, so a pediatric dentist will usually watch the gap before treating it. If the gap comes with a wider bite problem, malocclusion treatment for children may be needed.
How Are Gaps Between Teeth Closed?
How you close a gap depends on its size, its cause, and whether the teeth need to move at all.
Braces: Damon braces pull the teeth together. They’re the choice for larger gaps and for gaps from a mismatch between tooth and jaw size. If the frenum is part of the problem, a frenectomy goes with them.
Clear aligners: Invisalign handles mild to moderate spacing. The trays come out and there are no brackets to see, which is why adults like them.
Bonding and veneers: These add width to the teeth beside the gap. The gap closes in looks only, and nothing moves.
Retainers: Teeth want to go back where they were, so plan on a retainer after any tooth movement. It matters more if you have a tongue habit or a thick frenum.
If the gap is just between the front teeth and your bite is fine, can veneers fix gaps between front teeth goes through that option and its limits.
When Should You See a Dentist About a Gap?
A gap that has looked the same for years and doesn’t bother you can stay as it is. A few situations shouldn’t wait.
Widening gap: If it keeps growing, suspect gum disease. Scaling or laser gum treatment comes before any attempt to close it.
Loose teeth or pain: Teeth that feel loose, pain when you chew, or swollen gums alongside a gap need an exam soon. They can mean advanced gum disease.
A missing tooth: The teeth next to the space tilt into it. Dental implants are one way to fill it.
A child’s gap: If it goes with thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, or it’s still wide after the adult canines arrive, take the child to a pediatric dentist.
The bone under a missing tooth shrinks as well, and can missing teeth cause bone loss in the jaw covers how.
Key Takeaway
Get the cause identified first. Small teeth and a thick frenum give the easiest gaps to close, while gum disease and a missing tooth have to be treated before anything else. Braces and aligners move teeth, veneers and bonding only change how they look, and you’ll want a retainer whichever you pick. A gap that’s getting wider should be seen soon. The clinic’s number is +91 73491 02121.
Want to understand your options for closing gaps between teeth?
FAQ
In children, often, as the adult teeth come in. In adults, rarely.
Not on its own. A gap that keeps widening can mean gum disease.
It depends on the cause and the size. Braces and aligners move teeth, and bonding or veneers reshape them.
Yes, if you don’t wear a retainer or the cause, like a tongue habit, is still there.
