6x natural composite bonding — gaps and black triangles
Composite Bonding · Closing a gap
How do you close a gap in your teeth?
There are three main ways to close a gap between your teeth. Composite bonding adds tooth-coloured resin to gently widen the teeth either side of the space — same-day, no drilling, £380–£480 per tooth — and it is ideal for small-to-moderate gaps. Porcelain veneers do the same in hand-crafted ceramic. Invisalign physically moves your teeth together, which is usually the better route for a larger gap or a smile that is spaced throughout. For a wide gap, aligning first often gives the most natural result.
Closing a gap: at a glance
- Best for small–moderate gaps
- Composite bonding
- Best for larger / spaced smiles
- Invisalign
- Composite bonding
- £380–£480 per tooth
- Porcelain veneers
- From £950 per veneer
- Invisalign
- From £2,950 (~£150/mo)
- Same-day option?
- Yes — bonding, usually no drilling
- Consultation
- Free (£25 refundable deposit)
- Will it reopen?
- Not once it is retained
The options
What causes a gap, and how can you close it?
A gap between the teeth is called a diastema. The most familiar one is the midline gap between the two upper front teeth, but spacing can appear anywhere along the smile. Gaps are common and completely normal — they can run in families, follow a mismatch between tooth size and jaw size, appear where a tooth is small or missing, or sit where a prominent band of gum tissue (the labial frenum) holds the front teeth apart. Others open up gradually as gums recede or teeth drift with age. Closing a gap is always a cosmetic choice, not a health necessity — some people love their gap and keep it. If yours bothers you, there are three routes a cosmetic dentist will usually consider.
Composite bonding
The quickest, most conservative fix for a small or moderate gap. Dr. Albert hand-sculpts tooth-coloured resin onto the sides of the neighbouring teeth to gently widen them and close the space — usually in a single visit, with little or no drilling and often no anaesthetic. £380–£480 per tooth, and reversible, because barely any natural tooth is touched.
Porcelain veneers
Thin, custom-made ceramic shells bonded over the front of the teeth. They close a gap the same way bonding does — by adding width — but in a longer-lasting, stain-resistant material, and they can refine colour and shape at the same time. From £950 per veneer. Veneers involve a little irreversible preparation, so they suit a fuller redesign rather than one small space.
Invisalign
Clear, removable aligners that physically move your teeth together to close the gap, rather than filling it. This is the most natural route for larger gaps, or a smile that is spaced throughout, because it keeps your teeth their true size. From £2,950 (around £150 a month), and many patients add a touch of bonding at the end to perfect the finish.
Can you close a big gap with bonding — or do you need to align first?
Here is the honest answer, because it is the question that matters most. Bonding and veneers close a gap by making the neighbouring teeth wider. For a small space that is invisible — the teeth end up beautifully proportioned. But if the gap is large, widening the teeth enough to fill it can leave them looking too big or too square for your face. There is a natural limit to how much width a tooth can carry before it stops looking like your tooth.
That is why, for a wider gap, the most natural result usually comes from aligning first — using Invisalign to move the teeth closer together — and then adding a small amount of composite bonding only where it is needed to perfect the contacts. You get a closed gap and teeth that stay a natural size and shape.
Closing a gap can also reveal small dark spaces at the gum line, called black triangles, especially where the gums have receded. These have their own considerations — we cover them fully in our guide to black triangles between teeth. At your consultation, Dr. Albert will measure the space, look at your gums and tooth proportions, and tell you honestly which route will look best — never simply the quickest.
Side by side
Bonding vs veneers vs Invisalign for a gap
Additive
Composite bonding
- Best for a gap
- Small–moderate gaps, closed the same day
- Tooth alteration
- None (or extremely minimal)
- Reversible
- Yes
- Typically lasts
- 5–8 years
- From
- £380–£480 / tooth
Ceramic
Porcelain veneers
- Best for a gap
- Closing a gap as part of a fuller redesign
- Tooth alteration
- Minimal
- Reversible
- No
- Typically lasts
- 10–15 years
- From
- £950 / veneer
Move the teeth
Invisalign
- Best for a gap
- Larger gaps, or a smile spaced throughout
- Tooth alteration
- None
- Reversible
- —
- Typically lasts
- Held with a retainer
- From
- £2,950
Not sure which fits your smile? Start with what’s bothering you →
What to expect
What’s it like to have a gap closed with bonding?
For most people, closing a single gap with composite bonding is one of the gentlest treatments in cosmetic dentistry. There is usually no drilling and no injection — Dr. Albert cleans the teeth either side of the space, then hand-layers tooth-coloured resin in several shades, building and shaping it so the new width blends into your natural teeth. Each layer is set with a light, then the bonding is polished until it looks and feels like enamel. A single gap is typically completed in one appointment of an hour or two.
Because composite cannot be whitened once it is placed, many patients choose to whiten their natural teeth first, so the bonding is matched to their brightest shade — worth considering if you have been thinking about whitening anyway. Afterwards there is no real downtime: you can eat and smile straight away, though it is sensible to go easy on very hard foods and to avoid using your front teeth as tools. Looked after well, the result stays bright and intact for years, and because bonding is additive it can always be repaired or refreshed. You can read more about what composite bonding costs in our detailed price guide.
Keeping a closed gap looking its best is straightforward. Brush and floss as normal — bonded teeth are cleaned exactly like natural ones — and a good hygiene routine protects the gums so the space stays closed and the edges stay crisp. Composite can pick up stain from coffee, red wine and smoking over time, so an occasional polish at a review appointment keeps it fresh, and a whitening top-up can re-brighten your natural teeth around it. If you grind your teeth at night, a thin protective guard helps the bonding last longer. With that light care, most patients enjoy a closed gap for many years before it ever needs attention.
Real results
Gaps and spacing closed by Dr. Albert
Closing gaps — 6x Hollywood-style composite veneers
Gap closure with composite
Gap questions
Closing a gap: your questions answered
Is it better to close a gap with bonding or Invisalign?
It depends on the size of the gap. For a small or moderate space, composite bonding closes it in a single visit without moving your teeth. For a larger gap, or a smile that is spaced throughout, Invisalign moves the teeth together for a more natural result — often finished with a little bonding.
How much does it cost to close a gap with composite bonding?
At our Windsor practice, composite bonding is £380–£480 per tooth. A single gap is usually closed by bonding the two teeth on either side, so most gap cases involve two teeth. More complex or single-tooth work is £580–£680. Your exact quote is confirmed at your free consultation.
Will the gap come back after treatment?
If the gap is filled with bonding or veneers it will not reopen, because the space itself is closed with material — though bonding can chip or stain over the years and may need a refresh. Even so, your teeth keep moving as you get older unless you wear a retainer, so to make sure the gap does not drift open again we normally advise wearing one either way — whether you have had Invisalign or not.
Can you close a big gap with composite bonding?
Sometimes, but there is a limit. Filling a large gap means making the neighbouring teeth wider, and past a point that can look too big or square. For a wide gap, aligning the teeth first with Invisalign and then adding a little bonding usually gives a far more natural, better-proportioned result.
Is closing a gap with bonding permanent?
Composite bonding is long-lasting but not permanent — it typically lasts around five to eight years before it may need polishing or replacing. Because it is additive, and little or no natural tooth is removed, it can be repaired or renewed over time. Veneers last longer; Invisalign results are held with a retainer.
Do you need braces to close a gap in your teeth?
Not always. Small gaps can be closed with bonding or veneers alone, with no orthodontics at all. Braces or Invisalign are only needed when the gap is large, when the whole smile is spaced, or when moving the teeth will give a healthier bite and a more natural look than simply filling the space.
Reviewed by Dr. Albert Gajdos, GDC No. 265157 Last updated August 2026
Close the gap, keep it natural
See the best way to close your gap.
Book a free 30-minute consultation with Dr. Albert — he’ll measure the space, show you a preview of the result, and recommend the most natural route, whether that’s bonding, veneers or aligning first. £25 refundable deposit.