How to close a gap in your teeth

Page updated October 14, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Thomas and Dr. Jennifer Loucks-Buren.

You can close a gap in your teeth with braces or clear aligners, which move the teeth together, or hide it with dental bonding or veneers. A missing tooth may need a bridge or implant instead. Bonding is usually the cheapest of these at about $300 to $600 a tooth; braces cost more but fix the cause and can close several gaps at once.

What a diastema is

Diastema is the clinical term for a gap between teeth. It can be anywhere in the mouth but is most common between the two upper front teeth, called a midline diastema (Cleveland Clinic). It affects people of all ages and is more common in children, whose gaps may close once their adult teeth come in (Cleveland Clinic). Most providers see it as a variation of normal development (Cleveland Clinic), and many people like their gap.

What causes gaps in teeth

• Tooth and jaw size: teeth that are small for the jaw leave space between them (AAO) (Healthline). This often runs in families (Cleveland Clinic).
• Missing teeth: neighboring teeth shift into the space over time (AAO).
• An oversized frenum, the band of tissue between the upper lip and gums, which can push the front teeth apart (Cleveland Clinic).
• Habits: thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use and tongue thrusting, where the tongue pushes against the front teeth when swallowing (AAO) (Cleveland Clinic).
• Gum disease: in adults, gum disease or bone loss can open new gaps or widen old ones (AAO).

Is a gap a problem?

Usually not. Unless an infection is the cause, a diastema doesn't harm your oral health (Cleveland Clinic). But larger or growing gaps can make chewing harder, unbalance the bite, affect speech, trap food and raise the risk of gum problems (AAO). Call your dentist about a gap that's new or getting wider, especially with pain, redness or swelling, which can signal gum disease (Cleveland Clinic). Gum disease has to be treated before a gap is closed (Healthline).

Gaps in children's teeth often close as the adult teeth come in, depending on the cause and size; gaps between permanent teeth rarely close on their own (Cleveland Clinic). The AAO suggests keeping an eye on spacing as permanent teeth arrive (AAO).

Ways to close a gap, compared

Bonding and veneers are priced per tooth, so closing one gap usually means treating two teeth, and veneers are usually considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance (Healthline). Braces cover the whole mouth but take months and need a retainer for life.

Closing a gap with braces or aligners

Braces use steady pressure to pull teeth together and close a gap (Healthline). They work for small or large gaps, sometimes even one from a missing tooth, and because they move all the teeth they suit people with several gaps or other problems such as crooked teeth or an uneven bite (Healthline). The AAO recommends braces especially when spacing comes with crowding or bite problems, and says clear aligners can work well for mild to moderate spacing (AAO). Orthodontists often use power chains to close spaces.

Keeping a gap closed is the hard part. Some spacing problems are prone to relapse, so wearing your retainer as directed is essential (AAO); a bonded retainer behind the front teeth is one option. See types of retainers.

Bonding and veneers: hiding the gap

Dental bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin, shaped and polished to hide the gap (Cleveland Clinic). It usually needs no enamel removal, so it's reversible, takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth, and is done in one visit (Cleveland Clinic). It's one of the least expensive cosmetic procedures, but it isn't as strong as veneers and can crack, chip and stain (Cleveland Clinic) (Healthline). Some insurers treat it as cosmetic and won't cover it (Healthline).

Porcelain veneers are custom ceramic shells bonded to the front of the teeth (Cleveland Clinic). They resist stains and chips (Healthline), but the dentist removes some enamel to fit them, so they aren't reversible, and they need replacing every 10 to 20 years (Cleveland Clinic).

Bonding or veneers make sense for one or two small gaps or for small or uneven teeth (AAO) (Healthline). If a thick frenum is pushing the teeth apart, a minor procedure called a frenectomy can release it, often alongside bonding or veneers (Cleveland Clinic).

Gaps from a missing tooth

A gap left by a missing tooth may need the tooth replaced. A dental bridge uses healthy teeth on both sides as anchors (Cleveland Clinic). An implant is a titanium post that replaces the root, topped with a crown once it heals (Cleveland Clinic); it's oral surgery, can take several months, and is expensive (Healthline). Braces can sometimes close a missing-tooth gap, but not in every case (Healthline).

Gaps in children, teens and adults

The AAO says some spacing is normal in children as baby teeth fall out and adult teeth come in, but it should still be watched. In teens, gaps that persist or grow may point to an alignment or bite problem worth an orthodontist's look. In adults, spacing is often treatable, but new or widening gaps should be checked for bite changes or gum problems (AAO).

See an orthodontist if you notice gaps, food getting stuck often, discomfort when biting, speech changes, or gaps that seem to be growing (AAO). They'll look at the position of the teeth, the bite and the jaws, often with photos, scans or X-rays, to find the cause (AAO).

Don't use gap bands

Gap bands, small rubber bands sold to wrap around teeth, aren't recommended: Healthline warns they can damage the gums and bone around the teeth and cause tooth loss (Healthline). Moldable DIY "teeth fillers" are only a temporary cover, don't bond to teeth, and can fall out and be swallowed (Healthline). See why rubber bands need an orthodontist.

Which option is right for you?

It depends on the cause and size of the gap, your oral health and your budget (Healthline). An orthodontist can tell whether the gap is part of a bite problem; a dentist can check for gum disease and quote bonding or veneers. Get both opinions before you choose, and use the braces cost calculator to compare.