The gap between the front teeth is called the diastema. The problem is widespread - every fifth person on Earth has encountered it. A mild form of the disease does not bring trouble to its owner, except for aesthetic ones.
The gaps between the remaining teeth (on the lower and upper jaws) are called tremas. Many popular stars do not consider diastema and trema as a disadvantage, show their individuality and proudly smile broadly.
Differences between trema and diastema
Trema and diastema are types of cosmetic defects. Modern methods of treatment allow you to correct gaps of any complexity.
Diastema is a pathology that extends only to the front teeth of the upper or lower jaw. The size of the diastema ranges from 1 mm to 1 cm. Small gaps do not require special attention and do not need therapy.
Tremas look like enlarged gaps that are located on any teeth, except for the front incisors. Their appearance is typical during the period of the appearance of milk teeth, when the jaw is actively growing and developing.
Why does a diastema appear?
There are several reasons for the appearance. If we exclude heredity, the following factors provoke the appearance of cracks and gaps between the teeth:
- Bad habits in childhood - the child weaned from the pacifier for too long or constantly sucked his fingers. Due to the presence of an object in the mouth, the upper bite is formed incorrectly;
The baby should be weaned from the pacifier, starting at the age of six months.
- Incorrect arrangement of teeth in the mouth - the individual characteristics of the jaw are such that the teeth grow crowded and there is not enough space for them. In another case, a diastema appears - there is too much space, they fill the free space;
- Violation of the swallowing function - most people have a conditioned reflex by nature: when swallowing, the tongue rests against the soft part of the palate. In 5-7% of people, this reflex works differently - due to the special structure of the jaw, the tongue rests on the front teeth when swallowing. Under constant mechanical action, a gap is formed;
- Complications after periodontal disease - the problem is common among women. Bone tissue weakens, teeth "diverge" in different directions;
- Large frenulum - it looks like a jumper in the area of \u200b\u200bthe inner side of the lip, attached to the gum. The non-standard size of the frenulum (its increase) in the area of the front teeth does not allow them to close;
- A protracted change of teeth causes a concomitant problem: impaired diction, lisp. The process cannot be influenced in any way, treatment is carried out after the appearance of permanent teeth;
- Loss of teeth (dentia) - adjacent teeth "pull together" in the area of empty space;
- Incorrect position of the teeth at the initial stage;
- Small size of the central incisors;
- The appearance of a neoplasm.
A large gap between the teeth significantly affects the quality of life - it reduces social activity, interaction with the opposite sex. If the patient does not experience psychological discomfort, the correction is not carried out.
Over time, the diastema expands, which leads to violations of diction - lisping appears, it is not possible to fully pronounce a number of sounds.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of children's diastema is no different from identifying the causes of an increase in the interdental space of an adult. At the appointment with a specialist, a visual examination of the oral cavity is performed. To determine the bite and midline, the patient simply needs to close the jaws.
Therapy of complex pathology begins with radiography and the study of jaw models. During the diagnosis, the position of the teeth in the oral cavity, their shape, the inclination of the incisors and the general position of the frenulum are determined.
The choice of treatment technique is decided jointly by several specialists - a dentist-therapist, an orthodontist, a surgeon, an orthopedist.
Treatment
Dentists distinguish 2 types of gaps between teeth:
- False - manifests itself in a child during the period of change of milk teeth to permanent ones. The diastema disappears by itself as new teeth grow.
- True - the anomaly manifests itself after the formation of molars. It will not work to correct the deficiency on your own, the problem is solved with the help of a dentist or orthodontist.
Diastema requires periodic monitoring. It tends to expand over time.
Treatment of children's diastema when changing milk teeth does not involve special measures. To avoid such a defect in the future, parents should consult a specialist for advice.
If the problem appeared at the age of 12-16 years on permanent teeth, the diastema is corrected using the Angle arc. An effective remedy is the installation of a mouthguard. The device consists of hooks and rubber traction, which tightens the gap. It is installed from the inside in the place of the formation of a gap between the front teeth. To fix the effect, you will need to install a retention apparatus.
Diastema in adulthood is more difficult to eliminate due to the formed jaw system. There are a number of dental techniques to help solve a cosmetic defect. The treatment regimen depends on the causes of the onset of the disease, the size of the gap, the degree of development and the wishes of the patient.
1. Aesthetic artistic restoration
The therapeutic method allows you to return the missing aesthetics to the smile zone in a short time. Restoration is performed only on molars. The treatment technique is similar to traditional filling, and consists in applying a special photopolymer plastic material.
At the initial stage, a visual examination of the condition of the teeth is carried out. If they are afflicted with caries, get rid of it first. With the help of aesthetic restoration, it is possible to cure a diastema in one session. The dentist builds up tissue on the front incisors in layers and forms a partition between them. After each layer, the surface is polished and dried under a special lamp.
Before starting the extension, the specialist selects the color of the filling material, which corresponds to the natural shade of the teeth.
The restoration procedure is painless and has no contraindications.
2. Installation of veneers or crowns
A veneer is a durable thin plate (0.7 mm) made of ceramic. To mask the diastema, it is glued to a special composition only on the front of the tooth.
Installing veneers is an effective method for correcting dental defects in a short time. Before starting the procedure, the teeth undergo preliminary preparation: the surface is fluoridated, polished with professional brushes, treated with a protective gel. Compliance with the conditions at the initial stage allows you to avoid problems in the future. The color and shape of the veneers is selected in advance.
Before starting treatment, it is worth taking a responsible approach to choosing a specialist. He must have experience in carrying out such a procedure and the appropriate qualifications.
Advantages of installing ceramic plates:
- Do not cause allergic reactions of the oral cavity;
- They have high strength and durability;
- Do not affect the condition of the gums;
- Do not stain from food and drink.
Disadvantages of installing ceramic plates:
- Long wearing provokes the appearance of caries;
- High price.
Veneers are not installed on children's milk teeth!
Crowns are an inexpensive option for masking the gap between the front teeth, which is made of 2 materials: metal-ceramic and all-ceramic. The crown covers the tooth from the outside and inside. It looks like a cap, made in the laboratory according to the size of the patient. For installation, the dentist grinds the tooth from all sides so that the crown fits snugly against the bone tissue.
3. Installation of braces
Effective and safe, but time-consuming method. Braces are recommended for children who have recently replaced their milk teeth with permanent ones.
Braces are a structure attached to the outer or inner part of the dentition. Made of metal and transparent material. The duration of treatment is from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the degree of the defect and concomitant dental diseases.
It is much more difficult for an adult to get rid of interdental spaces with the help of braces. The jaw is already formed and is difficult to tighten the teeth with a special design. The wearing period is stretched for 2 - 2.5 years. After removing the braces, there is a serious risk of teeth divergence back to their original place. To fix the result, the orthodontist places a fixing plate on the inside.
The disadvantages of the bracket system include the high price and the inability to remove the structure before the end of treatment.
4. Installing the cap
A cap is a transparent cover for each tooth. Used to treat mild diastema. It is made individually for each patient according to the cast. Compared to braces, it can be removed during meals, and with a gel placed inside, it whitens teeth. An indisputable advantage - along with the elimination of excess space between the teeth, it corrects the bite and other dental pathologies.
5. Surgical method
It is used if the cause of the gap between the front teeth is a low-lying frenulum. The procedure is performed using a laser under local anesthesia. The method is applicable to adolescent children. The recovery period is short. The result does not appear immediately, but over time, the gap disappears completely.
Modern medicine allows you to effectively get rid of dental defects at any stage.
