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. Determining the cause of the diastema, then treat the cause.

2. Diastema treatment options can differ from one patient to another, but generally it is treated by orthodontics,^[5] or composite fillings, or a combination of veneers or crowns.

Famous people

Actor Terry-Thomas was known for his 1⁄3-inch (8.5 mm) diastema.

Some well-known people noted for having diastema include:

• Musicians: Madonna,^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]} Elton John,^{[12][13][9][14][15][19]} Seal,^[15][17][18] Amy Winehouse,^[13][18] Mac DeMarco,^[15] 50 Cent,^[15] Flea, Elvis Costello, Charley Pride, Ray Davies of The Kinks, Billy Preston, Ray Dorset of Mungo Jerry, Dave Brockie a.k.a. Oderus Urungus and guitarist Corey Smoot a.k.a. Flattus Maximus, both of GWAR, Melanie Martinez, Becky G, Laura Pausini, Edmund Sylvers, Hayley Williams, Pharoahe Monch, guitarist Steve Howe, and singer Bobby Brown and his daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown.^[20]

• Models: Georgia May Jagger,^{[7][15][17][19][21]} Lauren Hutton,^[15][19][22] Lara Stone,^[19] Lily Aldridge,^[19] Slick Woods,^[17] Jessica Hart, Michele Achieng Opiyo and Lindsey Wixson.

• Actresses: Uzo Aduba,^{[9][15][17][18][19]} Anna Paquin,^{[14][15][17][19][18]} Vanessa Paradis,^[15][19] Brigitte Bardot,^[13] Jorja Fox,^[12] Eve Myles,^[19] Léa Seydoux, Amira Casar, Cécile de France, Béatrice Dalle, Anna Popplewell, Octavia Spencer, Aubrey Plaza and Shannen Doherty.
• Actors: Omar Sharif, Elijah Wood,^{[13][15][17][18][19]} Robert Morse, Eddie Murphy,^{[15][9][17][19]} Samuel L. Jackson,^[15][19] Woody Harrelson,^[15][19] Willem Dafoe,^[16][17][19] Zac Efron (before veneers)^[13][15][17] Laurence Fishburne,^[15] Denis Leary,^[19] Arnold Schwarzenegger,^[15] former late night TV show host David Letterman,^[12][15] Ernest Borgnine, Terry-Thomas, Clint Howard, Jemaine Clement, Jamaica's Keith 'Shebada' Ramsay, and antiques expert and TV personality Tim Wonnacott.
• Comedians: Jimmy Tarbuck "The Gap-Toothed Chuckle Chappy", Paul F. Tompkins,^[23] Alan Carr and Alex Horne.
• News anchors: American television news reporter and anchor Michelle Charlesworth and New Zealand television news anchor and actress Angela D'Audney.
• Athletes: American football players Michael Strahan^{[15][17][18][19]} and Patrick Mahomes; American football coach Vince Lombardi; association football player Ronaldo; boxer Mike Tyson;^[15] professional wrestler and former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode; Major League Baseball players Joe DiMaggio^[24] (closed^[25][26][27]) and Jimmy Rollins; French tennis player Yannick Noah; British Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton; Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.
• Politicians and leaders: French president Emmanuel Macron, Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,^{[6][8][12][15]} former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor,^[7] American politicians Stacey Abrams and Chesa Boudin, and, according to released photos, several of the children of Nicholas II of Russia.

Large diastemata between incisors, canines and molars of a normal horse