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Orthodontics · single question

An 8-year-old patient has a diastema between the maxillary central incisors. What is most likely to happen?

  1. The diastema will increase in size after the other teeth erupt
  2. The diastema will close if it was less than 2 mm, once the rest of the teeth erupt
  3. The diastema will close even if it was more than 2 mm
  4. The diastema will not change
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. The diastema will close if it was less than 2 mm, once the rest of the teeth erupt

The classic 'ugly duckling stage' diastema in the mixed dentition commonly self-resolves as the lateral incisors and especially the canines erupt and migrate mesially, closing the space — but this favorable spontaneous closure is most reliably expected when the diastema is smaller (often cited as under about 2mm); larger diastemas are less likely to fully close spontaneously and may need orthodontic evaluation/intervention.

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