Fixing a Teeth Gap Cost

How Much Does Fixing a Teeth Gap Cost?

	Teeth Effect Bands: $4-$30
	Dental Bonding: $300-$800 Per Tooth
	Braces: $1,500-$13,000+

There are many options for covering or eliminating gaps between teeth. Factors to consider when researching possible solutions include the size of the gap, the root support of the teeth and the patient's budget.

Typical costs:

• Also called teeth gap bands, teeth effect bands cost about $4-$30 for 50-100 bands. These non-latex rubber bands are slipped over the teeth overnight to draw the teeth together. The process can be painful, and some dentists warn[1] that closing one gap may open two new gaps on each side, and that the bands could pull the teeth crooked or loosen a tooth from its socket, causing long-term problems.

• Cosmetic dental bonding (using a tooth-colored resin on each adjacent tooth to fill the gap) costs $300-$800 per tooth on average, but can be as low as $100-$200 or as high as $800-$1,000 per tooth depending on complexity, the dentist's training and local rates. Concealing a gap usually requires bonding two teeth, for a total cost of $200-$2,000. Bonding done for cosmetic reasons is typically not covered by insurance.
• A small gap can be camouflaged using dental veneers, which are custom-made, wafer-thin tooth-colored shells. Traditional porcelain veneers require removing some of the tooth enamel, and cost $500 -$1,100 or more per tooth, or $2,000-$4,500 for veneers on four upper teeth. The ultra-thin Lumineers brand often doesn't require shaving tooth enamel, and costs about $700 -$1,300 a tooth, or $2,800-$5,500 for four front teeth. Veneers are rarely covered by dental insurance.
• If the teeth with the gap have cavities or other damage, they can be covered with dental crowns designed to also fill the gap. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can cost $500-$1,500 or more per tooth; metal crowns (gold alloy or base metal alloy) can cost $500-$2,500 per tooth; and all-porcelain crowns typical cost $800-$3,000 or more per tooth. Crowns on two front teeth to hide a gap could cost a total of $1,000-$6,000 or more. Crowns that are considered cosmetic are typically not covered by dental insurance, but insurance might pay about 50% of the cost if the crown is required for medical reasons.
• If the only problem is the gap, partial braces (also called limited orthodontics) on only the six top front teeth can be used to close the gap at an average cost of $2,000 -$3,000. If other problems need correcting, traditional full braces can run $1,500-$13,000 or more, depending on the type of braces. For a relatively small gap, an orthodontist might be able to use a retainer to fix the problem at a cost of $500 -$2,500, depending on the complexity and length of treatment. Many dental insurance plans cover braces up to age 18, but not for adults.
• An overlarge frenum[2] (the membrane attaching the cheeks to the jaw and gums) can cause a gap. A labial frenectomy to trim this excess membrane is a fairly simple procedure that costs $250 -$1,200 depending on local rates and the size and position of the frenum, but can cost more if other procedures (like gum repair) are included. A frenectomy is usually performed after braces are used to close a gap. Insurance does not generally cover a frenectomy.

Related Costs: Teeth Effect Bands, Tooth Contouring, Dental Bonding, Dental Veneers, Dental Crown

Additional costs:

• Patients getting cosmetic bonding, veneers, crowns or a frenectomy may be charged separate fees for an initial teeth cleaning ($75-$300+), dental exam ($50 -$350+) and/or X-rays ($20 -$250).

• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has tips for finding low-cost dental care[3] .
• Dental school clinics[4] offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty.

• A dentist or orthodontist will need to examine the mouth before offering an opinion about which dental procedure(s) would be best to close a gap between two teeth. If possible, get more than one opinion and price quote.
• If the patient has dental insurance, the insurance company will provide a list of approved dentists and orthodontists. Or search for local members of the American Dental Association[5] , the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists[6] or the American Association of Orthodontists[7] .
• WedMD lists things to consider when choosing a dentist[8] .