A diastema (
pl.: diastemata, from Greek διάστημα, 'space') is a space or gap between two
teeth. Many species of
mammals have diastemata as a normal feature, most commonly between the
incisors and
molars. More colloquially, the condition may be referred to as gap teeth or tooth gap.
In humans, the term is most commonly applied to an open space between the upper
incisors (front teeth). It happens when there is an unequal relationship between the size of the teeth and the
jaw. Diastemata are common for children and can exist in adult teeth as well.
In humans
Causes
1. Oversized Labial Frenulum: Diastema is sometimes caused or exacerbated by the action of a labial
frenulum (the tissue connecting the lip to the gum), causing high mucosal attachment and less attached keratinized tissue. This is more prone to recession or by tongue thrusting, which can push the teeth apart.[1]
2. Periodontal Disease: Periodontal disease, also known as
gum disease, can result in bone loss that supports the teeth. If a person loses enough bone, the teeth can become loose and cause gaps to form.[2]
3. Mesiodens: Mesiodens is an extra tooth that grows behind the front teeth. A mesiodens may push the front teeth apart to make room for itself thus creating a gap between the front teeth.[3]
4. Skeletal discrepancy: Dental skeletal discrepancy can be a cause behind gap teeth. If the upper jaw grows more than the lower jaw, teeth on the upper jaw will have more space to cover thus leaving gaps between them.
5. Proclination: If the front teeth are angled forward, a small gap between them may appear large. This is called proclination; it may be a result of aggressive tongue thrusting.[4]
Treatment
1. Determine the cause of the diastema, then treat the cause.
In The Canterbury Tales,
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote of the "
gap-toothed wife of Bath".[6] As early as this time period, the gap between the front teeth, especially in women, was associated with lustful characteristics.[7] Thus, the implication in describing "the gap-toothed wife of Bath" is that she is a middle-aged woman with insatiable lust.[7]
In
Ghana,
Namibia and
Nigeria, as well as throughout many communities in Kenya, diastemata are regarded as being attractive and a sign of fertility, and some people have even had them created through
cosmetic dentistry.[8][9] In France, they are called "dents du bonheur" ("lucky/happiness teeth").[10] This expression originated in Napoleon's time: when the Napoleonic army recruited, it was imperative that soldiers had incisors in perfect condition because they had to open the paper cartridges (containing powder and ball) with their teeth when loading their muskets. All those who had teeth apart were then classified as unfit to fight. Some men broke their own teeth to avoid going to war.[citation needed]Les Blank's Gap-Toothed Women (1987) is a 30-minute documentary film about diastematic women.[11]
Famous people
Some well-known people noted for having diastema include: