Clinical analysis and treatment of spaced dentition

Spaced dentition is a common clinical finding, caused by a variety of factors. In each case, careful analysis of clinical symptoms is mandatory for effective treatment planning. Care should be taken to apply the least complicated treatment plan for obtaining the most successful result. Spaced dentition often exists in the presence of otherwise intact teeth; therefore, special care should be taken in order to prevent overtreatment. Surgical fibrotomies, complex orthodontic treatment, and prosthetic solutions that require sacrifice of sound tissue are often unnecessary. This article describes a case of large maxillary and mandibular midline diastemata, controlled by a combination of orthodontic therapy with porcelain laminate veneer restorations. The learning objective of this article is to develop a rational approach to spaced dentition analysis that leads to the most appropriate treatment plan for each individual case.