Closing a Gap and Evening the Color With Veneers
Treating one dark tooth at its source, then redesigning the upper smile to close a gap without bulky, oversized teeth
By Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh, DMD · 9460 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 · (310) 770-3335
Last Updated: July 2026
A gap and uneven color you're ready to change?
A gap (diastema) can be closed with veneers - but only if the design changes tooth proportions the right way, or the result looks wide and bulky. And a single darker tooth is often best treated at its source before any veneers go on. If you want a brighter, even, gap-free smile that still looks like you, send us a photo.
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Treatment Plan by Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh
- Internal bleaching of the discolored tooth (#9)
- Smile design
- Gum lift to refine the gum line and papillae
- Whitening of the lower teeth for color matching
- Ten upper porcelain veneers to close the gap
The Patient's Journey
This patient wanted a total smile refresh - specifically to close the gap between her front teeth and to even out her color. One tooth (an upper central, #9) was noticeably darker than the rest. Some people love their gap; she wanted hers closed, and she wanted the result to look natural, not oversized.
A gap isn't closed by making two teeth wider. It's closed by redesigning the proportions of several teeth so nothing looks stretched.
Understanding the Challenge
Two problems had to be solved in the right order. First, the dark tooth: a single tooth that has darkened from within is best treated at the source with internal bleaching before veneers, so the shade underneath is even. Second, the gap: closing a diastema by simply widening the two front teeth makes them look too big. The space has to be distributed across the design by adjusting the length and width of several teeth together.
Initial Findings
A midline diastema; uneven tooth color with one darker upper central; a request for a natural, understated result.
The Treatment Sequence
We started by internally bleaching the dark tooth to bring it back in line with the others. Then we designed the upper smile and performed a gum lift based on that design, refining the gum line and sharpening the papillae (the little peaks of gum between the teeth) for symmetry. We whitened the lower teeth so the shade would match the planned upper veneers, then placed ten upper porcelain veneers - closing the gap by proportionally adjusting each tooth's length and width rather than just widening the front two.
The Result
An evenly shaped, uniformly colored smile with no trace of the gap - and, most importantly to her, one she loves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gap Closure and Veneers
What is a diastema?
A gap or space between teeth, most commonly between the two upper front teeth.
Can you close a gap with veneers?
Yes - but the design has to distribute the space across several teeth by adjusting proportions, so the result doesn't look wide or bulky.
Why treat the dark tooth separately first?
A tooth that has darkened from the inside is best lightened at its source with internal bleaching, so the foundation shade is even before veneers go on.
Why whiten the lower teeth?
So the natural lower teeth match the shade chosen for the upper veneers - the veneers are matched to whitened teeth, not the other way around.
What is a gum lift here for?
To even the gum line and sharpen the papillae between the teeth, so the finished smile looks symmetrical.
Will the veneers look natural?
Yes - proportionate design and shade matching are what keep closed-gap veneers from looking oversized.
How long did it take?
About ten weeks, allowing for the bleaching and gum healing before the final veneers.
What does treatment like this cost?
It depends on the specific plan, which we review at consultation. We accept PPO insurance and offer financing through Proceed Finance, PatientFi, Happen Bank, CareCredit, and Cherry.
Last Updated: July 2026
Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh, DMD
Doctor of Dental Medicine
Most cosmetic dentists refer out for surgery. Most surgeons don't do cosmetic work. Dr. Mehdizadeh trained in both — implantology and bone grafting at Loma Linda and UCLA, fixed prosthodontics under Mauro Fradeani in Italy, periodontal microsurgery with Hürzeler and Zuhr in Munich, and IV sedation at the University of Alabama. That combination means complex cases involving surgery, grafting, implants, and restorative work are planned and executed by a single provider with full command of every phase.
Technical skill produces function. Taste is what produces beauty. The difference between dental work that looks like dental work and a result that looks entirely natural comes down to aesthetic judgment — proportion, texture, translucency, how light moves across a surface. That sensibility runs through everything here, from the way cases are designed to the office itself.
An in-house master ceramist and on-site laboratory allow restorations to be designed, fabricated, and refined with direct collaboration between doctor and technician — no outsourced lab work, no guesswork, no compromise on the final product. Dr. Mehdizadeh is one of few dentists with the refined ability to provide care across multiple specialties, resulting in cohesive and holistic outcomes.
Education & Credentials
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), cum laude — Boston University
- Bachelor of Science in Biology — Emory University
- Mastership in Implant Dentistry & Grafting — Loma Linda University / gIDE Institute
- Advanced Implant Therapy & Grafting — UCLA / gIDE Institute
- Implant Placement & Restoration — UCLA / Nobel Biocare
- Guided Bone Regeneration & Ridge Augmentation — gIDE Institute
- Sinus Elevation & Augmentation — gIDE Institute
- Soft Tissue Management & Grafting — gIDE Institute
- Minimally Invasive Augmentation & Autogenous Bone Management — IDEA, San Francisco
- Master Program in Fixed Prosthodontics — Fradeani Education, Italy
- Aesthetic Dentistry — UCLA School of Dentistry
- Advanced Occlusion & Bite Design — UCLA
- Periodontal Micro-Surgery — Hürzeler/Zuhr, Munich
- Micro-Endodontic Training — University of Pennsylvania
- IV Sedation — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Injectable Therapy for TMJ & Facial Pain — American Academy of Facial Esthetics
Considering similar treatment?
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