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 |  | Teeth Effect Bands: $4-$30 |  | Dental Bonding: $300-$800 Per Tooth |  | Braces: $1,500-$13,000+ |
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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 articles: Teeth Effect Bands, Tooth Contouring, Dental Bonding, Dental Veneers, Dental Crown
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Additional costs: | |
Discounts: | - 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.
Shopping for fixing a teeth gap: | - 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] .
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Panna in Dhaka, Other. | Posted: October 6th, 2016 10:10AM |
| Solution Type: Fixed |
Need new fixed teeth on upper side |
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| Posted by: Briana Smith in Mesa, AZ. | Posted: July 31st, 2016 06:07AM |
| Solution Type: Laser removal |
Laser remove my labial because it's too long pushing my front teeth apart western dental is the way too go my fourteen year old son also had a root canal and fill in one cavity he has ahcccs which y'all down here in AZ know it's health insurance for single/low income Families so everything was covered because they accept ahcccs and most of other insurance companies but accchs doesn't give othro coverage so my son got a free exam with the orthodontist and his braces cost 99$ down ND 100$ a monthly for the next 12 months(: I don't have coverage only my son does so western dental gave me a free exam and made a payment plan I can afford and they also check up on me and my son and are friendly and understand your dental needs on a budget I would give them an A+ on anything dental/ othro WESTERN dental gave this 27 year old waitress single mama living check to check a reason to smile without me having any financial struggles thank you!!! |
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| Posted by: Goodie in Miami, FL. | Posted: September 23rd, 2015 01:09PM |
| Solution Type: labial frenectomy |
Bradley A. Ross DMD wanted $85 plus $450 for a simple labial frenectomy surgery. Laser was much more I was told. Shopped around and found other doctors that would do the same procedure as low as $200 based on my circumstances. Some doctors offered a free consult and some did not. Ultimately found a doctor to do it for $250 including the consult. |
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External Resources: | - www.mynewsmile.com/cosmetic/teeth_effects.htm
- medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/frenum
- www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/popularpublications/findinglowcostdentalcare/
- www.ada.org/267.aspx
- www.mouthhealthy.org/en/find-a-dentist.aspx
- www.aacd.com/index.php?module=aacd.websiteforms&cmd=memberreferral
- www.mylifemysmile.org
- www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/finding-dentist
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