Diastema Treatment Cost: Close Gaps between Teeth with Braces, Veneers or Bonding

A gap between two teeth is known as a diastema. Gappy teeth are really common in children but are generally not something to be worried about since the spaces often disappear as adult teeth erupt.

If you have a diastema or several gaps between your teeth after all of your adult teeth have come through, you may want to explore different treatment options for diastema closure. You can also check treatment options for various types of malocclusion and we’ll go through everything you need to know, and answer the following questions:

• What is diastema?
• What causes diastema?
• How do you get rid of a gap between the teeth?
• How much does it cost to close teeth gaps?

Keep reading to find out how to get rid of gaps in teeth, including various malocclusion treatments, such as dental braces, aligners, and other dental procedures. We hope this helps you decide the best course of action for the gaps between your or your child's teeth.

What is diastema?

The simple definition of a diastema is a gap between two teeth. It's most noticeable with a gap between front teeth, but spaces can occur anywhere in the mouth. A gap in the lower teeth is called a mandibular diastema whereas a gap in the front two teeth is called a midline or median diastema.

According to this report in the Journal of the American Dental Association, between 1.6% and 25.4% of people have a diastema.

That's quite a gap! Although the findings are presented in a fairly technical way, it's worth scrolling through if you want to see some pictures of diastema closure before and after.

Gaps in baby teeth are pretty normal because at this stage the jaw is still growing and the teeth developing. As children grow up, lose their milk teeth, and get their adult teeth, any spaces often close naturally. If gaps are left then you can seek advice from a dentist.

People with spaces between their teeth need to take extra care with their oral health. A water flosser and interdental brushes can help, making it easier to clean gaps between teeth.

What causes gaps in front teeth?

There are quite a few different diastema causes. The main one is a mismatch in the size of teeth vs jaw size. If your jaw is too big or teeth are too small then they won’t align properly.

Gaps in front teeth can also be caused by extra tissue growing above the teeth. The bit of skin between your lip and top front teeth is called your frenum and this can overgrow sometimes. If it does grow too much it can force a diastema between your two upper front teeth.

Other things that cause a diastema are generally based on behaviour, such as:

• Thumb sucking
• Tongue thrusting
• Poor dental hygiene leading to gum disease

Thumb sucking will normally cause a midline diastema because this is where the thumb exerts pressure. Tongue thrusting can cause a mandibular diastema if the tongue is pushing against the lower teeth when swallowing. Both of these habits can be corrected in childhood to prevent long-term issues. 

If you suffer from periodontitis (severe gum disease), you could end up losing teeth. The infection can also lead to bone loss in your jaw which can make your teeth move and create gaps.

What is a peg lateral?

Sometimes the tooth called the second incisor – that’s the one next to the very front two teeth – doesn’t develop properly. This is known as a peg lateral, which is generally small and pointy. Because it is smaller than it should be, there might be gaps on either side.

Crowns, teeth implants and veneers (see below) are all options for fixing a peg lateral.

How to get rid of gaps in teeth

There are two approaches to closing gaps in teeth. Small gaps can often be filled using dental composite or veneers. In other cases, it's better to close the teeth gap with braces or aligners.

Your dentist will be able to talk you through which treatment is best for the gaps in your teeth, since every case is different.

Closing gaps in teeth with braces

Braces can be used to adjust the position of diastema teeth and close gaps in the mouth. Larger gaps usually require treatment with braces, whereas smaller gaps can be closed in other ways – more on these in a moment.

You’ll need to wait until all adult teeth have erupted before braces for a diastema can be considered. This is because a child’s jaw can grow at a different rate to their teeth, and the mix of milk teeth and adult teeth can cause natural spacing between teeth.

Once everything has developed, if any problems still persist then your dentist will discuss different braces options.

In this time lapse video you can watch the progress made by one patient with metal braces to close the gap in his front teeth:

Can aligners treat a diastema?

If you want to close gaps between teeth without metal braces, consider clear aligners, also known as invisible braces. They are very hard to notice, unlike conventional braces, but they are still an effective treatment for most patients with teeth spacing. They also have the added convenience of being removable.

Invisalign is one of the best-known brands of aligner, but also one of the more expensive treatment options. Their advanced technology does make them able to treat up to 90% of cases, so if you have a severe diastema, you may want to consider Invisalign.

There are more affordable brands like SmileDirectClub and NewSmile, which save money by dealing directly with you – no adjustments needed at the dentist. You record your progress by checking in via an app, and your assigned dentist monitors your treatment in this way.

You can read about Invisalign and other alternatives here, and learn more about the pros and cons of at-home aligner treatments. Alternatively, take a look at our recommended brands below and see if one of these would be suitable for you:

How can I get rid of gaps in teeth without braces?

Braces and aligners aren’t the only solutions for filling gaps in teeth. The two other options that may be offered are veneers and composite which are best for closing just one or two gaps. If several of your teeth are over-spaced then braces may be a better option.

Your dentist will discuss which treatment is most suitable for you, but here we’ll go through the pros and cons of each to help you understand your options.

Porcelain veneers

A porcelain veneer is a thin cover that fits on top of your natural teeth to alter the shape and/or colour. Fixing a small diastema with veneers is quite straightforward, but this treatment is only suitable for adults.

When filling gaps between teeth using veneers, the dentist simply makes the veneers slightly wider than the original teeth. When they are fitted, they meet in the middle and hide the gap.

Porcelain veneers usually require two dental visits; one to prepare the teeth and take measurements for the veneers, and another to fit them once they have been made in a lab. You can read more about veneers here.

Veneers can help cover up small gaps in teeth naturally, but the results may not look so good if used for a large gap. You don’t want to look like you have oversized front teeth!

Dentists are good judges of what will look natural; they look at different smiles every day, after all, so you should trust your dentist's opinion about the best option for you.

Composite bonding

With diastema, a composite material is applied directly to the teeth – no lab work is required. The dentist builds up and shapes the composite to give the desired appearance. In the case of filling gaps in teeth, the composite is used to extend the tooth slightly to close the diastema.

Composite material can be used to cover the original tooth completely, in which case it's called a composite veneer. It's also a common treatment for chipped tooth repair.

In the following video, you can see a dentist perform diastema closure with composite resin on the patient's four front teeth. The material is applied to the sides of the teeth to fill the gaps, before being hardened and shaped.

Veneers vs. composite for a diastema

The table below summarises the two main options for treating a diastema without braces, including teeth gap treatment costs for both:

How much does a diastema closure cost?

Closing gaps in teeth costs anywhere from £200 (for composite bonding to fill a gap between two front teeth) to thousands of pounds for porcelain veneers or braces.

We've already covered the prices for veneers and bonding in the table above. Treating diastema teeth with braces costs between £1,300 and £5,500, depending on the type of braces used.

Invisalign diastema treatment prices start at around £2,000 for people who need mild orthodontic treatment. More severe cases will cost up to £5,500 to treat. The only way to know the cost for your case is to make an appointment with an Invisalign dentist.

If you opt for remote monitoring with a direct-to-consumer brand, the cost can be as low as £1,295 (with NewSmile).

Filling gaps between teeth is unlikely to be considered a medical necessity, and therefore the NHS usually doesn't cover diastema closure costs in the UK.

Children and adults with severe cases of teeth spacing, perhaps as a result of hypodontia (naturally missing teeth), may be eligible for braces and then dentures or dental bridges to fill the gaps. The NHS also covers treatment for periodontitis, which may be the cause of gaps between teeth.

For more information about the different kinds of braces, you can read this guide. You may also want to explore your finance options for dental work.

Conclusion

A diastema, or gap in your teeth, is generally not a medical concern in itself, but there can be underlying reasons you have gaps in your front teeth, or between other teeth, so it’s best to see a dentist for a proper assessment.

Don’t be too concerned if your baby has gaps in their teeth; this is quite common and may well fix itself when their adult teeth erupt.

Closing gaps in teeth is reasonably straightforward and traditional braces aren’t always necessary. Clear aligners are a less noticeable way to close gaps in teeth and tidy up any other cosmetic flaws that might be bothering you.

Whichever treatment you decide on, it's a good idea to visit a dentist for a general checkup before commencing.

FAQs

Can a retainer fix gaps in teeth?

Retainers can be used for some orthodontic treatments, but are limited in what movement they can achieve. Fixed or removable braces are a more effective way to correct the diastema.

How can I fill gaps in teeth naturally?

It really depends on what you mean by ‘naturally’. Although braces, veneers, and bonding may not be considered natural, they are safe and effective and deliver natural-looking results.

How can I fill a gap between teeth at home?

You could use a temporary filling material but this won't look good or be durable. A home teeth straightening kit is a better solution if you don't want to visit a dentist.

Are gaps in baby teeth normal?

Gaps are normal in baby teeth because at this age, the jaw is still developing and a child's baby teeth may end up looking spaced out. This is also true when both baby and adult teeth are present.

I have gaps in my teeth after braces, what can I do?

Braces are designed to correct the position of your teeth and give you a properly aligned smile. If you aren’t happy with the results of your treatment then refer back to the orthodontist who treated you.

Does flossing create gaps in teeth?

There isn’t any reason that normal flossing would cause gaps to appear between your teeth. Flossing incorrectly could harm the gums and cause them to recede, creating the appearance of gaps between teeth.

Do gaps in teeth get bigger with age?

As we get older our teeth can shift position and the enamel may begin to erode. This can cause gaps in teeth to get bigger with age, but it's possible to get braces for gaps in teeth later in life.

How long do braces take to close a gap?

This really depends on how much tooth movement is needed to remove the gaps between teeth. Treatment with braces for a teeth gap can be as quick as three months.