The gap distance is the space between the bone of an osteotomy or an extraction socket and a dental implant at stage-one surgery. A gap may occur at various locations including the lingual or proximal aspect or at the buccal plate. The level of the first bone-to-implant contact is influenced by the dimension of the gap as well as the type of implant used.
Gap distance can also refer to the distance between teeth. To reduce the gap between teeth, different forms of dental or orthodontic work may be required including tooth extraction or braces. To correct the gap between teeth, treatment may require repeated visits which can spread out over a number of months or even years. Gap between teeth treatment costs will vary depending on the type of dental or orthodontic work required as well as the duration of the corrections and number of office visits.