Invisalign · Gaps
Invisalign for gapped teeth
Toothi London, Edgware · Last reviewed 17 October 2026
Yes, Invisalign closes gaps. Spacing is one of the things aligners do best. 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.
A few gaps need a different plan: very wide ones, a gap from a missing tooth that’s better replaced, and gaps that keep reopening because of a tight gum fibre or a tongue habit. Your free iTero scan shows which kind you have, and we’ll 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 holds the two incisors apart. The frenum may need releasing too, or the gap comes back.
- ✓ A missing or undersized tooth, often an upper lateral incisor. Sometimes we close the space with aligners. Sometimes it’s better to open it evenly and replace or build up the tooth.
- ✓ Tongue thrust or thumb habits, which push the front teeth forward and apart over the years.
- ✓ Gum disease. Bone loss lets teeth drift and fan out, so the gums have to 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. You wear them 22 hours a day and change every week or two as prescribed, and the series walks the teeth along the arch until the space has gone. Small attachments are often used on the teeth being moved, because the aligner needs a proper grip to slide a tooth bodily rather than just tip its crown. A single front-teeth gap is usually a short plan. Spacing across several teeth means moving the whole front of the arch a little at a time, which takes longer. The mechanics are 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 actually 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 uses both. Aligners bring the teeth together and even out the spacing, then a little edge bonding finishes the shape of the two front teeth. The trade-offs are 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 one of the results most likely to relapse. The gum fibres that stretched as the teeth moved try to pull them back. So 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.
Ready to take the next step? Our main Invisalign in Edgware page sets out the three packages, what’s included and how to book your consultation.
Invisalign results from our patients
A few of the smiles we’ve straightened at Toothi in Edgware.
Photos of our own patients, shared with their consent. Individual results vary.
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’s retained. Every package includes a fixed wire retainer behind the front teeth, which 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 it’s better to tidy the space with aligners and replace the tooth with an implant or bridge. Your scan will show which.
Is it better to close a gap with bonding or Invisalign?
Invisalign if the teeth are the right size and just spread out. Bonding if they’re too narrow for the arch. Plenty of patients have both, and we’ll show you each option 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.
