Hello, this is Apgujeong Yonsei Baro Dental Clinic, a dental orthodontic clinic in Gangnam.

This post is for those concerned about gaps between their teeth.

This post may be helpful for those who

• Are concerned about gaps between their front teeth

• Are unsure whether to choose veneers or orthodontic treatment

• Wonder whether no-prep veneers are possible

• Want to replace old composite resin

• Want natural front-tooth proportions and a natural-looking smile

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Today, I’ll show you a case in which we first performed a brief course of Invisalign orthodontic treatment and then completed treatment with no-prep Zelami veneers to achieve a more refined result.

Can gapped front teeth be treated with veneers alone?

When there is a gap between the front teeth, many people first think of veneers. However, doing veneers right away is not always the best way to treat gapped front teeth. Depending on the alignment of the teeth and the size of the space, reducing the space with orthodontic treatment first and then placing veneers can create a much more natural and long-lasting result. In this case, rather than placing veneers immediately, treatment was performed in the following order: Invisalign Lite → no-prep veneers (Zelami).

This patient visited us for no-prep veneers.

The gap between the front teeth had been filled with composite resin for some time.

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If veneers were placed immediately in this condition, the front teeth would look too large.

Because tooth alignment follows perspective closely, even making the color lighter can make the front teeth look larger and more prominent.

To achieve a more refined result, we recommended removing the resin, first closing the gap with orthodontic treatment, and then placing no-prep veneers.

The space could be adequately treated with Invisalign Lite.

We explained that this approach would allow us to achieve a 4:5 width-to-height ratio for the front teeth. The patient agreed, so we proceeded with Zelami treatment after Invisalign Lite orthodontic treatment.

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This is what the teeth looked like after removing the old resin that had been filling the gap between the front teeth.

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The lower front teeth also had considerable spacing.

In this condition, we performed an intraoral scan and ordered the appliances for Invisalign Lite treatment.

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The usual waiting time after ordering the Invisalign appliances is about one and a half months.

Since the patient could not remain with the front teeth gapped during this period, we temporarily filled the space with composite resin.

After waiting one and a half months, the patient began wearing the Invisalign appliances in February 2024.

Up to 14 appliances can be made for Invisalign Lite.

This is how the teeth looked in July 2024, after wearing all 14 appliances in the first set for six months.

Because the patient lived abroad and entered the country only for orthodontic appointments, the appliances were changed once every 10 days.

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The gaps between the front teeth had completely closed.

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The alignment had also improved.

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One of the lower front teeth had not rotated quite enough, so we decided to order one additional set of appliances.

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This is how the teeth looked after wearing the additional appliances from August through December 2024.

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The spaces had been closed and the alignment was complete.

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Now it was time to prepare for the no-prep veneers.

Although the teeth were aligned, the edges of the front teeth had worn down diagonally.

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In the facial photographs, slight canting was visible, making the occlusal plane appear tilted because of the worn front teeth.

We decided to cover this area with no-prep Zelami veneers.

This is the design information actually sent to the dental laboratory.

Because of the schedule of a patient living abroad, we proceeded directly to fabrication of the Zelami veneers without a fitting appointment.

Here are the before-and-after photos taken in January 2025, before and after the Zelami veneers were bonded.

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Personally, I do not particularly prefer veneers that are extremely white,

but the patient wanted the whitest and brightest color, so they were made in the brightest shade.

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Six veneers were made, from canine to canine.

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The canting was no longer visible after the Zelami veneers were bonded.

This is how the teeth looked after the retainer was attached.

This photo shows the thickness of the Zelami veneers.

They are thin enough that there is almost no difference in thickness compared with the natural teeth. Let’s look at the before-and-after comparison.

The total treatment period, from the initial visit in January 2024 through orthodontic treatment and Zelami treatment completion in January 2025, was one year.

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In order, these photos show the initial visit (after resin removal), immediately after orthodontic treatment, the Zelami design, and after completion of the Zelami treatment.

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Here is a summary of the key points from this post.

For gapped front teeth, which is better: orthodontic treatment or veneers?

If the space is large or you want to create natural tooth proportions, reducing the space with orthodontic treatment first and then placing veneers may produce a better result.

Why didn’t you place veneers right away?

Because filling the space entirely with veneers can make the front teeth look excessively large.

Can gapped teeth also be treated with Invisalign Lite?

Yes, it is sufficiently possible for mild space closure.

Why are veneers still needed after orthodontic treatment?

The shape, wear, length, color, and subtle symmetry of the teeth can be improved more naturally with veneers. ​

Do no-prep veneers avoid reducing the teeth? ​

Depending on the case, minimal reduction or no reduction may be possible. However, this does not apply to every patient, so an accurate diagnosis is necessary.