When you smile and look in the mirror, what do you think of your teeth? If your first thought is that your teeth look too small for your mouth or your face, then you should schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist. There are a few things you can do about this problem — and none of them involve having your too-small teeth pulled and replaced with implants!
Crowns
If you only have one or two teeth that you think are too small — such as your two front teeth — then your dentist may recommend simply having those teeth covered with crowns. Crowns are basically like caps that fit over your teeth. They are made from porcelain or ceramic that is the same color as your natural teeth, so nobody will be able to tell your teeth are covered with crowns. The crowns can be made a little thicker than normal to really make your small teeth look larger.
Crowns are usually applied over two appointments. At the first appointment, your dentist will take an impression of your tooth to send to the lab. At the second appointment, your dentist will cement the lab-made crowns into place.
An added benefit of this approach is that the crowns will help protect your teeth from decay and cavities.
Veneers
Veneers are porcelain caps that only cover the front of your teeth. They can be made larger than your teeth, and when looking at you, people will only see the veneer. The veneers will also cover any other problems with your teeth, like stains and chips. You can easily get a whole row of them, or two whole rows of them, making veneers a good choice when many of your teeth look too small.
Having veneers put in place is non-invasive, but veneers are considered permanent since your dentist will need to remove a little of your tooth enamel prior to placing them.
Gum Reshaping
Some patients who think their teeth look too small really just have excessive gum tissue. The gums come too far up on the tooth, hiding a portion of the tooth crown. A dentist can perform a procedure called gum reshaping to expose more of your tooth. You'll be given a local anesthetic prior to this appointment so that you don't feel any pain. Your mouth will be a bit sore following gum reshaping, but you'll be back to normal within a week or two.
If you think your teeth look too small, talk to a cosmetic dentist in your area. They can let you know which of the three solutions above would work best for you. For more information about services a cosmetic dentist can provide, contact a local office.
Share27 October 2020
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.