A diastema is a gap between two teeth, most often between the upper front teeth. Closing it with a filling means bonding tooth-colored composite to the sides of the teeth on either side, building each one out slightly until the gap is closed and the two teeth meet. It is done for appearance, and it is the least invasive way of dealing with a small gap.
When it is the right approach
Composite closure suits a gap that is small enough to be shared between the two teeth without making either look too wide. A wider gap is better closed by moving the teeth together with orthodontic treatment, which changes their position rather than their shape, or by veneers where the teeth also need reshaping or a change of shade. Gum health comes first in every case: composite added at the gum margin traps plaque if the gum is already inflamed.
How the treatment works
Little or no drilling is usually needed, because the composite bonds to the enamel surface rather than into the tooth. The surface is prepared, the composite is placed in layers and shaped in the mouth, and each layer is set before the next. The dentist works to keep the proportions of the two teeth even and to leave the margin at the gum smooth, then polishes the surface. It is generally completed in a single visit, and the result is visible immediately.
Aftercare
Composite stains over the years, more so with tea, coffee and tobacco, and it does not lighten with whitening the way natural enamel does. Any whitening is therefore planned before the composite is placed, not after. Clean between the teeth as before, since the join between composite and tooth is where decay starts. Composite can chip under a heavy load, and it is repaired or repolished rather than replaced entirely.
The dentists behind this treatment
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