Invisalign · Gaps
Invisalign for gapped teeth
Toothi London, Edgware · Last reviewed 17 October 2026
Yes, Invisalign closes gaps. Spacing is one of the movements aligners do best, because sliding teeth sideways along the arch is a simple, predictable movement. A gap between the two front teeth (a diastema), small spaces across the smile line, or a space left by a small or missing tooth can all be treated, usually with Invisalign Go Express or Go, in typically around 3 to 6 months.
The honest caveats: very wide gaps, gaps caused by a missing tooth that is better replaced, and gaps that keep reopening because of a tight gum fibre or a tongue habit each need a slightly different plan. Your free iTero scan shows which you have, and we tell you before anything is made.
Why Gaps Happen
Where the space comes from
- ✓ Teeth smaller than the jaw — the most common cause. The arch has more room than the teeth fill, so they spread out.
- ✓ A prominent frenum — the small fold of gum between the front teeth sometimes sits low and keeps the two incisors apart. Closing the gap may need the frenum released as well, or the gap reopens.
- ✓ A missing or undersized tooth — often an upper lateral incisor. Sometimes the space is closed with aligners; sometimes it is better opened evenly and the tooth replaced or built up.
- ✓ Tongue thrust or thumb habits — push the front teeth forward and apart over the years.
- ✓ Gum disease — bone loss lets teeth drift and fan out. The gums must be healthy before any aligner treatment starts.
How It Works
How aligners close a gap
Each aligner is made with the teeth a fraction closer together than they are now. Worn 22 hours a day and changed every week or two as prescribed, the series walks the teeth along the arch until the space is gone. Small attachments are often used on the teeth being moved, because sliding a tooth bodily rather than just tipping its crown needs the aligner to grip it properly. For a single front-teeth gap the plan is usually short; for spacing spread across several teeth, the whole front of the arch is moved a little at a time, which takes longer. The mechanics are explained in how Invisalign works.
Invisalign or Bonding?
Closing a gap with aligners vs composite bonding
| Invisalign | Composite bonding | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Moves the teeth together so the gap genuinely closes | Adds tooth-coloured composite to the edges of the teeth to fill the space |
| Best for | Gaps of any size where the teeth are the right size for the smile | Small gaps, or gaps where the teeth are too narrow to close the space by moving them |
| Time | typically around 3 to 6 months | One visit |
| Price at Toothi | from £1,495, retainers and whitening included | Edge bonding £195 per tooth |
| Looks after | Natural teeth, no added material | Composite needs occasional polishing or repair over the years |
Often the best result is both: aligners to bring the teeth together and even out the spacing, then a small amount of edge bonding to finish the shape of the two front teeth. We cover the trade-offs in Invisalign vs composite bonding.
Price
What gap closure costs at Toothi
| Package | Price | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Invisalign Go Express — front-teeth crowding or spacing | £1,495 | typically around 3 months |
| Invisalign Go — mild to moderate cases | £2,495 | typically around 6 months |
| Invisalign Go Plus — moderate cases with more movement | £2,995 | typically around 9 months |
| Complex cases | quoted after assessment | referred on |
Included in every Invisalign package: iTero 3D scan and ClinCheck · all review appointments · refinement aligners if needed · removable and fixed retainers · Airflow hygiene clean · Boutique teeth whitening. There are no add-ons. Full detail on our fees page and in our Invisalign cost guide.
After Treatment
Why gaps reopen, and how we stop it
Closed gaps are among the most likely results to relapse, because the gum fibres that stretched as the teeth moved try to pull them back. That is why every Toothi package includes a fixed wire retainer bonded behind the front teeth, which holds a closed diastema permanently, plus removable retainers for night-time wear. Where a low frenum is the cause, a simple frenectomy may be advised so the gap stays closed.
Common Questions
Gap questions
Can Invisalign close a gap between the front teeth?
Yes. A diastema is one of the most common and most predictable Invisalign cases. Very wide gaps or gaps held open by a low frenum may need bonding or a frenectomy alongside.
How long does Invisalign take to close a gap?
A single small gap is usually a Go Express case, typically around 3 months. Spacing across several teeth is usually Go, typically around 6 months. Your timeline is confirmed on your plan before you start.
How much does it cost to close a gap with Invisalign?
At Toothi, from £1,495 for Go Express, with retainers and whitening included. Edge bonding to fill a small gap instead is £195 per tooth.
Will the gap come back?
Not if it is retained. A fixed wire retainer behind the front teeth is included in every package and holds a closed gap for as long as it stays in place.
Can Invisalign close the space from a missing tooth?
Sometimes, if the remaining teeth are the right size and the bite allows it. Often the better plan is to tidy the space with aligners and replace the tooth with an implant or bridge. Your scan shows which.
Is it better to close a gap with bonding or Invisalign?
Invisalign if the teeth are the right size and simply spread out; bonding if the teeth are too narrow for the arch. Many patients do both. We show you both options at the consultation.
See your gap closed on screen before you decide. Book your free consultation with a free iTero 3D scan and leave with a fixed written price.
Call 020 3148 2444 or WhatsApp us · 1 Handel Parade, Edgware, HA8 6LD · Open seven days.
0% finance over up to 10 months on treatment over £250. Cherry Dental Ltd trading as Toothi is a credit broker, not a lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 957242). Credit is provided by Tabeo, subject to status. All treatment is subject to clinical assessment; results vary between patients.
