Is a gap between a child's front teeth normal?
Usually, yes. Spaces between baby teeth are healthy because adult teeth are bigger and need room. When the upper adult front teeth arrive, a gap between them is common and often narrows as the side teeth and canines come in, typically by the early teens. A gap that stays wide after the canines erupt, or comes with a missing or extra tooth, deserves an orthodontic check, which Creative Arts in Dubai offers.
Who treats you here Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz Specialist Orthodontist · Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko Specialist Orthodontist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
Why do children have gaps between their front teeth?
A gap between a child's front teeth is often a sign that things are going to plan. Baby teeth are small, and the adult teeth that replace them are noticeably wider. Spaces between baby teeth give the larger adult teeth room to come through. Dentists are often more interested in a young child whose baby teeth are tightly packed with no spaces at all, because that can point to crowding later.
When the upper adult front teeth (the central incisors) erupt, usually somewhere between six and eight years of age, they often come in with a gap between them and may look large for the child's face. Over the next few years the teeth beside them, and later the canines, develop and push into place. As they do, they tend to nudge the front teeth together and the gap narrows. Many parents worry during this phase; most of the time, the right response is to watch and wait.
Gap between child front teeth: what is normal at each age?
Ages are approximate; every child develops at a slightly different pace.
| Stage | What is usually normal | When to ask a dentist or orthodontist |
|---|---|---|
| Baby teeth (toddler to about 6) | Spaces between the baby teeth, especially at the front | No spaces at all and tightly packed teeth; a baby tooth knocked or discoloured |
| Adult front teeth erupting (about 6 to 8) | Upper front teeth arrive with a gap and may look big | A very wide gap; one front tooth not appearing months after its partner; a baby tooth that will not fall out |
| The ugly duckling stage (about 8 to 11) | A gap with the front teeth fanned slightly outwards while the canines develop above them | The gap widening rather than narrowing; teeth pushed strongly forwards; thumb-sucking still continuing |
| Canines erupted (about 11 to 13) | The gap is much smaller or closed | A gap that is still clearly present; uneven spaces elsewhere in the mouth |
These are general patterns, not a diagnosis. A dental examination and, where needed, an X-ray show what is happening under the gums.
What is the ugly duckling stage?
"Ugly duckling stage" is the informal name dentists use for the mixed-teeth phase when the upper front teeth are in, often with a gap and a slight outward fan, while the adult canines are still developing high in the jaw. The canines' crowns sit close to the roots of the side teeth and can tilt them, which in turn spreads the front teeth apart.
As the canines move down and erupt, usually around eleven to thirteen, the pressure changes and the front teeth often come together. This is why most orthodontists do not rush to close a gap at age eight or nine: closing it early can be undone by the teeth still to come. Knowing this phase exists saves many children from treatment they do not need, and saves parents a lot of worry.
Is a thick lip frenum causing the gap?
The labial frenum is the fold of tissue that joins the inside of the upper lip to the gum between the front teeth. In young children it is often thick and attaches low, close to the teeth. As the teeth and jaw grow, it usually becomes thinner and moves upwards relative to the teeth.
In some children it stays thick and attaches into the gum between the front teeth. A sign dentists look for is the gum between the teeth turning pale when the upper lip is gently pulled upwards. A frenum like this can be one reason a gap persists, but it is rarely the only factor, and its influence is judged together with the other teeth.
Treatment of the frenum, called a frenectomy, is usually not considered while the canines are still coming in. Many clinicians prefer to close the gap orthodontically first and then reassess, because the frenum may thin on its own and because scar tissue in the wrong place can make closing the gap harder. Our guide to frenectomy explains the procedure and when it is discussed; whether it is suitable for your child, and who would carry it out, is decided at an assessment.
What else can cause a gap that does not close?
When a gap stays open after the canines have erupted, or looks unusual earlier, the dentist or orthodontist checks for a specific cause:
- An extra tooth. A small supernumerary tooth between the roots of the front teeth can hold them apart or stop one from erupting. It is usually seen on an X-ray; see extra teeth.
- Missing or small side teeth. If the upper lateral incisors never formed, or are small and peg-shaped, there is less tooth width to fill the arch and spaces remain; see congenitally missing teeth.
- Habits. Thumb or finger sucking beyond the early years, or a tongue that pushes forwards when swallowing, can tilt the front teeth outwards and open spaces; see thumb-sucking and teeth.
- A mismatch between tooth size and jaw size, which is often a family trait.
Each cause has a different answer, which is why an examination comes before any decision about closing the gap.
Never use elastic bands to close a child's gap
Rubber bands or hair elastics placed around the front teeth to close a gap can slide up under the gums, where they are invisible and can destroy the attachment that holds the teeth in the bone. This can lead to the loss of healthy front teeth. If you are worried about a gap, see a dentist instead; our guide on DIY gap bands explains the risk.
When should a child's front tooth gap be treated?
For most children, the answer is not yet. The usual approach is to monitor the gap through the mixed-teeth years and decide once the canines have erupted. Earlier action is considered when there is a clear cause that will not resolve by itself, such as an extra tooth blocking a front tooth, a habit that is still tilting the teeth, or a front tooth that has not appeared when expected.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first see an orthodontist no later than age seven, because the mix of baby and adult teeth at that age lets problems be spotted early. An early check does not mean early braces; for many children it simply confirms that development is on track and sets a time to look again. At Creative Arts this is what our early orthodontic assessment is for.
If a gap does need closing, it is usually done with braces or aligners once the adult teeth are in, followed by a retainer, often a bonded wire, because front-tooth gaps have a strong tendency to reopen. How that compares with removable retainers is covered in fixed vs removable retainers.
Not sure whether your child's gap is a normal stage? Our specialist orthodontists in Dubai check how the teeth are developing, explain what to expect and only suggest treatment when there is a reason.
Book an early orthodontic checkWhat happens if the gap is still there as a teenager or adult?
A gap that remains once all the adult teeth are in will not usually close by itself. Teenagers and adults have the same orthodontic options, and closing the space with braces or aligners keeps the natural teeth intact. When a gap is caused by small or missing side teeth, orthodontics may be combined with tooth-coloured bonding to widen narrow teeth, or with a replacement tooth, once growth is complete.
For adults, cosmetic options such as bonding or veneers can also close small gaps without moving teeth, but they are not used on children's developing teeth. Adult gaps, and how the options compare, are covered on our page about gaps between teeth.
Who checks children's teeth at Creative Arts?
At Creative Arts, children's routine dental care is part of our pediatric dentistry service, and questions about how the teeth and bite are developing are seen by our specialist orthodontists, Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz and Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko. The visit typically includes looking at the teeth, the bite and the lip frenum, asking about habits, and taking an X-ray only if it is needed to see unerupted teeth. You leave with an explanation of what is normal for your child's stage and, if anything needs doing, a written plan. The clinic at 614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.