Diastema (dentistry)

As a diastema ( from Ancient Greek διάστημα diastema " gap " ) or Margo interalveolaris (from Latin: margo " edge " inter " between " and alveolus " hollow" ) is defined as occurring in almost all mammals toothless gap between the corner and the front molars and in humans between the central incisors.

Diastema in primates

The diastema of the primates, the gap between canines and incisors in the upper jaw and is also known as monkey gap, as they mouth closed accommodate the dagger -like elongated canines of the lower jaw in many primate species (including the living apes except humans ). In modern man there are no monkeys gap, the human dentition is closed and the canines are relatively short. But well they had some to Homo erectus fossils asked. For fossil bones found allow the presence or absence of a diastema ( " monkeys gap" ) to draw conclusions about the extent to which species found hominid ( ape- like) or hominin ( human-like ) characteristics exhibited.

Diastema in humans

There is a gap between the central incisors, usually in the upper jaw, rarely also in the mandible, which is also referred to as Trema ( from Ancient Greek τρῆμα trema "hole" ).

Genuine diastema

The real diastema is hereditary. It is characterized by a too deep ansetzendes frenulum on the inside of the upper and lower lip ( frenulum labii superioris or inferioris ). Through plastic surgery of the lip frenulum or the surgical removal of the tissue between the teeth by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and subsequent orthodontic measures the diastema can be treated well. The most appropriate treatment time point is before the eruption of the permanent lateral incisors, ie between the ages 6-8 years.

For Africans and African Americans there is very often a pronounced diastema. It is often seen in these groups even as a beauty feature. Some people who do not have a diastema, even try to artificially create one by a cosmetic dental treatment (german cosmetic dentistry ). Big problems constitutes the making of a bridge in the upper anterior region, in which a diastema is to be seen. For this purpose, an invisible connection bracket are made on the palate.

In addition to the frenulum, in rare cases, a Mesiodens ( a supernumerary central incisor, which is very small and peg- shaped mostly) be the cause of the diastema.

Spurious diastema

Here the cause is a plant or atrophy of one or both lateral incisors. The treatment is performed by a broadening of the central incisors with composite material veneers ( veneer -like blindness ), crowns or an all-ceramic bridge.

Medial diastema

The gap between the upper central incisors is here due to a large arch and / or small-scale incisors or by a too deep ansetzendes frenulum. The treatment is that of the spurious diastema.