As mentioned in a previous post, this too is a highly controversial question. The general consensus by orthodontists today is that the presence or removal of wisdom teeth have no effect on the crowding of permanent teeth. This is what is taught in dental schools currently. So, of course I will tell you that I agree with this. However, I will add in a bit of the general public’s view on the matter as I have seen it in my practice.

I cannot tell you how many patients I have encountered who swear to me that their teeth have shifted since their wisdom teeth came in or were removed. Since I cannot remember everyone’s teeth exactly and don’t have before and after photos, I have no way to verify this. I am not in the practice of taking random dental photos for no apparent reason and so I have none to reference. I do believe, however, that most people are greatly in touch with their bodily happenings and as such wouldn’t make the statement up for no good reason. So, this will remain a question that I cannot answer with absolute certainty. One thing I have learned is, that science can change and so I can’t always be sure of what is absolute and what is not. So, maybe in the future, new studies will reveal that the presence of wisdom teeth do have an impact on crowding and straightening!

Spaces between baby teeth are indeed normal as well as helpful. However, occasionally a child has a much larger than normal space between the upper two front teeth. This large space is what we call a “diastema,” which really just means a large space or gap. They are usually caused by the presence of a little extra muscle tissue between the underside of the top lip. This muscle attaches the lip to the gum tissue between the top two front teeth. We all have this muscle attachment, but occasionally the attachment may be a little excessive or attach a little further down toward/in between the teeth than usual. This slightly different attachment is sometimes just enough to keep the two front teeth from coming together. If not corrected, this attachment can stay present as an adult and may or may not cause other problems.

In general however, this is not something to be overly concerned about until the child is older. Your dentist may choose to have your child evaluated by the orthodontist, as sometimes the space will not close on its own. It is fairly easy to fix, sometimes requiring reshaping and or relocating of the attachment to a better cosmetic place with or without the help of orthodontics. Typically no treatment is performed to fix it until the child has all or almost all of their permanent teeth. If you and your child decide not to fix it, there is usually no problem associated with leaving it other than having the space there permanently. Occasionally if left alone, (this is usually when the problem is on the lower front teeth) the attachment can cause a defect in the bone and gums, causing a host of other problems. So, it is always best to have your dentist evaluate the area regularly during check-ups or if you have concerns about the space.