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Widely spaced teeth
Teeth - widely spaced
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
Some diseases and conditions that can cause widely spaced teeth are:
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Acromegaly
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a condition in which there is too much growth hormone in the body.
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Ellis-van Creveld syndrome
Ellis-van Creveld syndrome
Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects bone growth.
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Morquio syndrome
Morquio syndrome
Morquio syndrome is a disease of metabolism in which the body is missing or does not have enough of a substance needed to break down long chains of s...
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- Possible gum disease
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Sanfilippo syndrome
Sanfilippo syndrome
Sanfilippo syndrome is metabolism disorder in which the body cannot properly break down long chains of sugar molecules. These chains of molecules ar...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Tooth shifting due to gum disease or missing teeth
Home Care
Ask your dentist if braces can help if the appearance is bothers you. Some dental restorations like crowns, bridges, or implants may help improve the appearance and function of teeth.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if:
- Your child's teeth or jaws appear to be developing abnormally
- Other health symptoms accompany the appearance of widely spaced teeth
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The dentist will examine the mouth, teeth, and gums. Other tests that may be done include:
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Dental x-rays
Dental x-rays
Dental x-rays are a type of image of the teeth and mouth. X-rays are a form of high energy electromagnetic radiation. The x-rays penetrate the body...
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Facial or
skull x-rays
Skull x-rays
A skull x-ray is a picture of the bones surrounding the brain, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses.
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References
Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM, Chi AC. Abnormalities of teeth. In: Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM, Chi AC, eds. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology . 4th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2016:chap 2.
Tinanoff N. Development and developmental anomalies of the teeth. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2015:chap 307.
Review Date: 2/22/2016
Reviewed By: Michael Kapner, DDS, general and aesthetic dentistry, Norwalk Medical Center, Norwalk, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
