MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Widely spaced teeth

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Widely spaced teeth

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative Names Definition Causes	Home Care When to Contact a Medical Professional What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Illustrations

Oral anatomy

Alternative Names Return to top

Teeth - widely spaced

Definition Return to top

Widely spaced teeth can be a temporary condition related to normal growth and the development of adult teeth. Wide spacing can also occur as a result of several diseases or continued growth of the jawbone.

Causes Return to top

Acromegaly
Ellis-van Creveld syndrome
Injury
Morquio syndrome
Normal growth (temporary widening)
Possible gum disease
Sanfilippo syndrome
Tooth shifting due to missing teeth

Home Care Return to top

Ask your dentist if braces can help if the appearance is bothersome.

When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top

Call your health care provider if:

Your child's teeth or jaws appear to be developing abnormally
Other symptoms accompany the appearance of widely spaced teeth

What to Expect at Your Office Visit Return to top

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Dental x-rays
Facial or skull x-rays

Update Date: 5/28/2008

Updated by: Jason S. Baker, DMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Private Practice, Yonkers, New York. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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