Gap between front teeth: causes and how to close it

A gap between the front teeth, called a diastema, is common and usually harmless. It can be closed with composite bonding, which adds tooth-coloured material in one visit (£195 per tooth at Toothi in Edgware), or with Invisalign, which moves the teeth together (Go Express £1,495). Small gaps suit bonding. Larger gaps usually suit aligners.

Most gaps come down to a mismatch between the size of the teeth and the size of the jaw. Sometimes the gum, a habit or gum disease is behind it, so it’s worth having a gap checked rather than just covered up.

• ✓  Tooth and jaw size. Smaller teeth in a larger jaw leave space. Often runs in families.
• ✓  Small or missing side teeth. Narrow “peg” lateral incisors or a missing tooth let the front teeth drift apart.
• ✓  A large labial frenum. The band of tissue between the upper lip and gum can extend down between the front teeth.
• ✓  Habits. Tongue thrusting or long-term thumb sucking can push front teeth forward and apart.
• ✓  Gum disease. Bone loss can let teeth move and fan out, so a new or widening gap in an adult needs a gum check.

There are two main ways to close a diastema: build the teeth slightly wider with composite bonding, or move them together with clear aligners. Sometimes it takes both.

Prices are fixed and taken from our fees page.

It mostly comes down to one question: would closing the gap with composite leave your teeth looking in proportion? If they would end up too wide, moving them is the better answer.

• ✓  Bonding suits a small gap on otherwise straight teeth, especially if you’d also like to tidy up chipped or uneven edges.
• ✓  Invisalign is usually better for a larger gap, several gaps, crooked or rotated teeth, or front teeth that already look wide.
• ✓  Both together can work well if aligners close most of the space but your teeth are naturally small. A little bonding afterwards finishes the shape.
• ✓  Referral to an orthodontist is the right call if the gap is part of a complex bite or jaw problem beyond what Go Plus can treat.

For more detail, see composite bonding for gaps, our composite bonding page and our Invisalign page.

Every option starts with a free consultation. For bonding you get photos and a same-day written quote. For Invisalign you get a free iTero 3D scan, so you can see a simulation of how your teeth could move.

Invisalign patients need to be dentally fit first, so a check-up and X-rays come before treatment. Every Invisalign package includes your iTero scan and ClinCheck, all reviews, refinement aligners if needed, removable and fixed retainers, an Airflow hygiene clean and Boutique whitening.

No. Please don’t use elastic bands, DIY gap fillers or mouldable beads to close a gap. Bands can slip under the gum and damage the tissues holding the tooth, and loose fillers trap plaque and can come away.

Gaps can also reopen if nothing holds them closed. Whether you choose bonding or aligners, keeping the result needs a plan, which is why retainers are included in every Invisalign package. See Invisalign cost UK for package details.