When tooth position contributes to a narrow-looking smile, orthodontic treatment may help. Safe movement depends on the bite and supporting bone and gums. More complex jaw-width concerns may need specialist assessment. Retainers are needed after treatment.
Buccal corridor correction in London
A fuller smile, shaped around you.
If you notice dark spaces at the sides of your smile, you may wonder whether your smile could look wider. We’ll help you understand what could change, which options suit your teeth, and whether treatment is worthwhile.
Buccal corridors are the shadowed spaces beside your back teeth when you smile. At Harley Street Dentists, the starting point is an assessment of your teeth, bite and the change you would like to see.
Cosmetic consultation complimentary with exam.
New patient examination £135 · 66 Harley Street, London W1G 7HD
Understanding your smile
What makes a smile look narrow?
Smile width is influenced by the position and shape of your teeth, the dental arch and the way your lips move. A dark space at the corner of a photograph does not, on its own, tell us which treatment would help.
“Buccal corridor correction” describes an aesthetic aim. It is not one procedure. Some people may benefit from moving teeth; others may be better suited to changing the shape of selected teeth. Sometimes leaving healthy teeth alone is the better choice.
The aim is a smile that works with your face and bite. Removing every shadow is not a necessary or realistic goal for everyone.
Compare your options
Choose the approach that fits the cause.
The same concern can need very different plans. These are options to discuss after an examination, rather than a menu to choose from a photograph.
Before deciding
Is treatment right for you?
An examination helps distinguish a cosmetic preference from an alignment or bite problem. You do not need to know which treatment to request.
Useful questions for your assessment
- Which teeth or features are creating the appearance I notice?
- What could change safely, and what is unlikely to change?
- Would alignment, cosmetic work or no treatment suit me best?
- What are the risks, maintenance needs and full costs?
Health comes first
Decay or gum disease may need attention before elective treatment. Tooth movement has risks, including changes to roots and gums; restorative treatment can involve sensitivity and damage to tooth tissue. Your dentist should explain the risks relevant to your mouth.
Transparent starting fees
What does buccal corridor correction cost?
There is no fixed “smile widening” package. The fee depends on the cause, the treatment chosen and how many teeth need care. These fees help you plan the conversation.
A personalised treatment plan and fee breakdown follow assessment. These are treatment starting prices, not a quote for correcting buccal corridors.
View the full fee guideNew patient examination£135
Cosmetic consultationComplimentary with exam
Clear aligners / Invisalign LiteFrom £2,750
Invisalign ComprehensiveFrom £3,750
Composite bondingFrom £325 per tooth
Porcelain veneerFrom £995 per tooth
If you proceed to a treatment plan, the examination fee you have paid is deducted from the treatment-plan balance. The team can explain payment arrangements before you proceed.
Your next steps
Start with an explanation you can use.
Bring your questions and, if helpful, a photograph that shows what you have noticed. You can discuss a particular event or travel commitments, without assuming a treatment deadline is possible.
1. Explain what you would like to change
Tell the team that you are enquiring about buccal corridors or a narrow-looking smile. They can help arrange the appropriate appointment.
2. Assess the whole smile
Your dentist assesses your mouth and discusses the findings, possible approaches and whether further records or a referral are needed.
3. Review your proposed plan
Ask for the expected changes, limitations, costs and follow-up needs in writing. You can consider those details before choosing treatment.
Common questions
Before you enquire
Can Invisalign make my smile wider?
In selected cases, moving teeth can change the visible width of the smile. Invisalign is not a promise of jaw expansion or a particular reduction in dark spaces. Your bite, roots and supporting tissues determine the safe range of movement.
Can bonding or veneers reduce dark spaces?
Sometimes. Adding to the shape of selected teeth may improve how they fill the smile. Bonding and veneers do not widen the jaw. Excess bulk can make teeth harder to clean or interfere with the bite, so suitability needs careful assessment.
How long does buccal corridor correction take?
There is no single treatment timetable. Tooth movement usually involves a course of care over months; restorative work follows a different sequence. Your dentist can explain the likely visits, review appointments and maintenance after assessing you.
Does every narrow smile need treatment?
No. Visible buccal corridors are a normal feature of many healthy smiles. If you are comfortable with your smile and your mouth is healthy, there may be no reason to change it.
Is this the same as buccal fat removal?
No. Buccal fat removal is facial surgery involving cheek fat. Buccal corridor assessment concerns the spaces visible beside the teeth when you smile.
Can I see what my result will look like?
Ask what planning records or previews would be useful for your case. Any simulation or mock-up is a planning aid, not a guarantee. A realistic discussion should include what may stay the same as well as what might change.
66 Harley Street · London W1G 7HD
Find out what could work for your smile.
Speak with the team about a buccal corridor assessment. You can explain your concerns, ask about fees and arrange your first visit.
Cosmetic consultation complimentary with exam.
New patient examination £135.
Call 020 4634 9203
Prefer to message? Text 07456 441350
Appointments are arranged with the team.
Contact details and directions
Discuss your smile
66 Harley StreetEnquire
66 Harley StreetEnquire