Can veneers close a gap between your front teeth? Often, yes. But closing a gap well is not just making two teeth wider until they touch.
Three things decide whether the result looks natural: the gum, the width and the color.
The gum is half of it
When a gap has been there for years, the gum between those teeth has settled into the space. If the teeth simply meet above it, a small dark space can remain.
So I plan the gum along with the teeth. The goal is for the tissue between your new teeth to look like it has always been there.
Wider teeth, honestly
Closing a gap makes the teeth around it wider. That is a conversation I have before we begin.
A skilled ceramist shapes the porcelain so wider teeth still read as natural. And sometimes the most elegant answer is to close most of the gap, not all of it. If the teeth feel too wide in your temporaries, we can open a little space back up. You decide that with me, on your own face.
The color
Here is the part patients don’t expect. When teeth get wider and whiter at the same time, they look bigger still.
If you want the new teeth to look smaller, a slightly warmer shade often helps. I explain more in why the whitest shade isn’t always the best one.
You see all of this in your temporaries for two to three weeks before the porcelain is made. For the full picture of how I plan a smile, read my guide to porcelain veneers in Beverly Hills. I’m based in Los Angeles and take one trip a month to our New York office.
Continue reading: Ceramic veneers: why the whitest shade isn't always the best one · Veneers vs. bonding: which one is right for you?
Common questions
Can veneers close a gap between front teeth?
Often, yes. A natural result depends on planning the gum, the width of the teeth and the color together.
Will closing my gap make my teeth look big?
The teeth do get wider. Careful shaping and the right shade keep them in proportion, and sometimes a warmer shade is the better choice.
Do I have to close the gap completely?
No. Sometimes the best result keeps a little space. We decide that together while you are in your temporaries.
Can I see the result before the veneers are made?
Yes. Your temporaries are a real preview, and you live in them for two to three weeks before the porcelain is made.
This article is general information only and not a substitute for a personal exam and treatment plan from your own dentist.
Cosmetic dentist at Apa Aesthetic in Beverly Hills and New York since 2015. NYU College of Dentistry. Founder and Chief Education Officer of Stribe, where she has trained more than 1,000 dentists.
About Dr. Andi
