title: Maxillary diastema: indications for treatment.
abstract: 1. In comparing characteristics associated with the presence or absence of diastema at the age of 16 years, generalized spacing was the only significant factor. 2. In the 230 children who had a diastema of 0.5 mm. or greater at age 9, there was a significant association between the diastema and the amounts of crowding or spacing at age 16. 3. A clinician must analyze the individual case in order to determine whether the diastema is to close through normal development or if there exists a likelihood of its persistence.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000848:Anodontia / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D003970:Diastema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000002:abnormalities; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D011336:Probability; D012306:Risk; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000150:complications