What is the medical term for a gap between two teeth?

The medical term for a gap between two teeth is diastema. In dentistry, the word describes an extra space between adjacent teeth; in everyday speech, people often call it a tooth gap or gap teeth.

In humans, the term most commonly refers to a space between the upper front incisors. A diastema may result from a mismatch between tooth size and jaw size, an unusually attached or enlarged labial frenulum, tongue pressure, an extra tooth, or gum disease. Some gaps are harmless and simply reflect normal dental development.

Diastemata are particularly common in children, and spaces between baby teeth may close as permanent teeth erupt. A gap that persists in adulthood can remain purely cosmetic, but a newly developing or widening space may warrant a dental examination because periodontal disease can loosen the supporting tissues around teeth.

The term is not limited to people: many mammals naturally have diastemata, often between their incisors and molars. Its plural form is diastemata, derived from a Greek word meaning “space.”