Closing Gaps Between the Upper Front Teeth: a Case by Dr. Marina Antoniuk

The upper front teeth show open spaces: a gap between the two central incisors and further spaces beside them, towards the lateral incisors. The lateral incisors look narrow next to the centrals, and the biting edge of the central incisors is slightly uneven, with a small step at one corner. The lower front teeth sit close together and are slightly irregular.

The after photo shows the spaces closed and the upper front teeth brought to a matching width, length and lighter shade with new ceramic restorations that follow a smooth curve. The central incisors are now the dominant teeth, with the lateral incisors and canines stepping back in proportion.

In Dr. Marina's approach a case like this starts with measuring how much space there is and how it can be shared out, before anything is changed. A digital smile design and a mock-up let the patient see the proportions in the mouth first; natural tooth structure is kept wherever the design allows, and the new front edges are planned together with the bite. This is the thinking behind the course she attended in Dubai in February 2025 with Prof. Marcelo Calamita, "Esthetics & Integrating Occlusal Principles into Smile Design".

The spaces between the upper front teeth are closed and the gum fills the areas between them. The front teeth have one even shade, rounded corners and a level biting edge, and the lateral incisors now look in proportion with the centrals.