Do gaps in baby teeth mean anything?

Teeth are both functional and cosmetic. They help us talk, eat and smile. They're also a sign of health and wellbeing, and the same holds true for baby teeth. A child's temporary primary teeth, or baby teeth, are vital for development. So it's no wonder that as a infant's first set of teeth begin to emerge from under the gums (usually between 6 to 12 months of age), parents will peer into their little one's mouths and hope those itsy bitsy pearly whites are growing correctly -- a process that began many months before they were born [source: American Dental Association].

Baby teeth start forming while the fetus is still in utero. In fact, every newborn has a complete set of baby teeth underneath their pink, tender gums. Their full set of primary teeth, comprised of 20 chompers in all, should be fully visible by their third birthday to help them with chewing, talking and even reserving space in their mouths for their future adult-size teeth [source: ADA].

Not to state the obvious, but since baby teeth are small and less numerous than adult ones (adults should have 32, including wisdom teeth), it's not unusual for gaps to occur between them [source: Shenkin]. This sometimes leaves parents wondering whether the gaps in their baby's teeth mean anything and whether this means their gap-toothed infants will grow to become gap-toothed teenagers and adults. Though the best way to ensure the health and wellbeing of your child's teeth is by visiting a dentist, do keep reading to learn more about the spaces between your baby's teeth and what they really mean.

Contents

Baby Teeth Basics
The Gap Up Front

Baby Teeth Basics

So what's the deal with all that space? "When a child's first teeth begin emerging from their gums, it's actually considered pretty normal for spaces to occur in baby teeth," says Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, adding that the gaps are found in about 40 percent of kids. This spacing does not cause problems -- in fact, these spaces are great. They give the permanent adult teeth room to grow in, and this is good news since it also means that the permanent adult teeth will likely not be crowded, helping alleviate the need for costly braces [source: Haugseth]. Still, some children do grow up with a noticeable amount of excess space between their adult teeth, though this is not very common.

But, let's get back to baby teeth. With all this space between the teeth, many parents may feel they can forego flossing and just stick to brushing. But, dentists suggest that flossing should start early, especially between the back molars.

If you're wondering whether these gaps are referred to as primate spaces, the simple answer is no. Primate spaces occur between the baby eye teeth (also known as canines since they look like fangs) and the first baby molar (sometimes called the one year molar) behind it, and usually go unnoticed [source: Haugseth].

Using information from the American Dental Association, we can expect the following timeline:

6 to 8 months old: The bottom front teeth (incisors) commonly emerge around 6 months of age, with the top two appearing a couple months later.
9 months old: The teeth flanking the front teeth, also known as lateral incisors, grow in when a child is approaching his or her first birthday.
13 months old: The first-year molar appears shortly after that first birthday cake.
16 months old: Those sharp pointy eye teeth are one way to know that it's time to feed your baby some food that needs to be chewed well.
2 years old: The second set of molars begins to appear.
6 years old: A child's first adult teeth emerge.

So what are your options?

The Gap Up Front

Even more common than spaces between baby teeth is a space between the two upper front teeth. It's one of the biggest concerns for parents when it comes to their child's teeth, although it's a purely cosmetic issue. Space between the upper front teeth may be caused by the maxillary frenulum. That's the stringy piece of tissue connecting the gum between the two front teeth and the upper lip.

"If this band of tissue is broad and positioned low on the gums (close to, or between, the upper front teeth) it can cause this space," writes Dr. Rhea Haugseth, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry [source: Haugseth]. "If this tissue is the cause, most likely the permanent front teeth will also have this space."

An evaluation by your child's dentist will give you the options for treatment. However, it's best to wait until adult teeth erupt in [source: Shenkin]. Once this occurs, one option is to undertake a frenectomy [source: Dental Health Index] to reduce the tension and, in theory, cause closure of the space between the front teeth. This procedure involves snipping the tissue between the gums and the teeth. The surgery itself is fairly short and simple and can be undertaken in 10 to 15 minutes by a dentist or orthodontist, but it may take a few weeks to completely heal. Braces are the common solution for any other spaces that may occur between permanent teeth.

Ready to book your next dentist appointment? We've got lots more information on the next page.

Baby Teeth FAQs

Can gap teeth be closed?

Composite bonding or tooth bonding is an easy method of closing the small gaps that form between teeth. This process involves bonding composite resine (a material that is similar to the color of teeth) to the gap in the teeth.

What causes a gap in front teeth?

Diastema or tooth gaps are caused because of the natural difference between the size of teeth in comparison to the jaw. Simply put, these gaps occur when teeth are sized normally but the jaw is larger than average.

Are gaps in the teeth hereditary?

Both the size of the jawbone and teeth are determined by genetics. Gaps in teeth are caused when a child's teeth are too small in comparison to their jawbone. As a result, their teeth are naturally spaced far apart.

Do pacifiers cause gaps in teeth?

Dental experts believe that pacifiers can harm the development and growth of teeth. Prolonged usage of pacifiers tends to affect the shape of the roof of a child's mouth, therefore, hindering growth and causing problems in teeth alignment later in life.

Will a frenectomy close a gap?

Yes, a frenectomy can close the gap in teeth. This process involves adding an oversized labial frenum in the mouth via minor surgery. As a result, gaps in teeth will begin to close naturally. Adults, however, will not be affected by this process and should opt for braces.

Lots More Information

How important are teething tablets?
Oral Hygiene 101
Do cavities in baby teeth need to be filled?

Sources

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "Homepage." 2002-2011. (Aug. 19, 2011).
American Dental Association. "Baby Teeth." 1995-2011. (Aug. 22, 2011)
Boston University. "ADA Appoints Dr. Jonathan Shenkin as Spokesperson." Nov. 23, 2009 (Aug. 26, 2011)
Dental Health Index. "Frenectomy." 2011. (Aug. 26, 2011)
Harner Orthodontics. "Harner Orthodontics Early Orthodontic Treatment Tooth Eruption Sequence." YouTube. April 5, 2010 (Aug. 22, 2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSktcrJ2Wk4
Haugseth, Rhea. AAPD President. Personal Correspondence. Aug. 22, 2011.
Shenkin, Jonathan. Clinical Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Health Services Research and Pediatric Dentistry, Boston University School of Dental Medicine. Personal Interview. Aug. 19, 2011.