MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Widely spaced teeth

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Widely spaced teeth

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Common Causes	Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

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 acquisition of adult teeth. It can also occur as a permanent condition in several diseases. Wide spacing can also result from continued growth of the maxilla or jaw, as is seen in acromegaly.

Common Causes Return to top

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

Home Care Return to top

If the appearance is bothersome, ask your dentist about the possibility of orthodontic work (braces).

Call your health care provider if Return to top

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 health care provider's office Return to top

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Dental x-rays
Facial or skull x-rays

Update Date: 10/9/2003

Updated by: Michael Kapner, D.D.S., Comprehensive and Aesthetic Dentistry, New Rochelle, N.Y., Editor, Ninth District Dental Association. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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