Diastema - how to remove it? Removal of diastemas

Diastema is a professional term for the gap between teeth, upper ones. And this is not always a purely aesthetic problem. Diastema can lead to speech problems, malocclusion or periodontal disease. Therefore, sometimes decommissioning may be necessary. How to deal with it, what methods of treatment can be applied?

A diastema is a gap between the incisal teeth in the middle, in short, between the upper ones. It is qualified as a malocclusion only when the gap exceeds 2 mm. In other cases it is a feature of the dentition, which does not require treatment.

We have several types of diastema. When the extended ones are set in parallel, a parallel diast is referred to as a parallel diast. If the lower tips of the teeth are pointing towards each other, this indicates a convergent diastema. On the other hand, the upper tips of the teeth are directed from each other, which means that the diastema is divergent.

Diastema (tooth gap) - causes

Depending on the reasons, a diastema can be distinguished.

- true, which is the result of either hypertrophy or a low attachment of the upper lip frenulum

- alleged - which may result from the absence of lateral incisors or from a reduction in their size or oversized teeth

- physiological - observed in the period before the emergence of lateral incisal permanent teeth between 7 and 9 years of age appears and is not more than 2 mm.

Diastema (gap between teeth) - treatment

In the case of real diastema, the frenulum will be undercut, it will also be advisable to wear orthodontic braces.

In parallel diastema the treatment will depend on the width of the gap between the teeth, only the gap above 2 mm will be closed.

When it comes to convergent diastema it will be necessary to wear permanent braces and the divergent braces will be treated in front of the removable braces.

If diastema is a result of missing teeth, implants will be used. In the case of an oversized tooth, extraction is carried out and the only ones are slid off with an acrylic plate with a screw or with well-located interdental springs. Alternatively, a fixed camera can also be used

Treatment does not require a physiological diastema because it will close spontaneously.

Diastema - how else can you get rid of it?

Orthodontic braces are the most effective way to get rid of diastemas, but you have to wear them for a long time, even over a year. For those who do not want to wait an alternative may be closing with the help of veneers. This procedure consists in gluing thin porcelain plates of about 0.5 mm on teeth that are ground beforehand.

The quickest and most importantly, the reversible method is bonding, i.e. masking the gap by using a composite. In this case it is similar to putting a seal, first the tooth is etched with demineralizing acid, then the composite material is applied and then shaped with disks. The effect is achieved during one visit. However, such a method is less durable than the application of veneers, which can be used for up to 15 years, so they are really an excellent choice for people fighting against this problem.