Teeth are often the first thing we notice about someone’s appearance, and a beautiful smile helps someone’s personality beam from the inside out. We all know people who drew us in with their show-stopping smile. The best part of our job as dentists is seeing the confidence a brand-new smile gives our patients. Their newfound confidence helps them feel ready to show off their pearly whites to anyone in their path.
As a West Haven Family Dentistry, we see teeth of all shapes and sizes daily. Some teeth are large, some are medium, and some are small but mighty. The appearance of your teeth has a lot to do with genetics. We get what we get as traits get passed down to us.
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But for some adults, teeth get smaller over time due to crookedness, overcrowding, or bad habits such as grinding, ice chewing, or jaw clenching. Hormonal and genetic factors can sometimes lead to a condition where the teeth appear too small for the face, often due to a more prominent jaw. This condition is known as relative generalized microdontia.
When all teeth are uniformly small, it’s referred to as generalized microdontia, often linked to genetic conditions like pituitary dwarfism. More commonly, however, we see patients with localized microdontia, where only a single tooth is affected. This is often due to a reduced number of teeth.
If you are self-conscious about your tiny teeth and want to inquire about cosmetic dentistry in Utah, you’re certainly not alone. People seek treatment for their small teeth every day. There are many options available for making small teeth bigger. Here are five of the most common options for fixing small teeth:
1. Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are the magic ticket to a great smile for people of all budgets, lifestyles, and professions. They’re behind the perfect smiles you see on the big screen, and when done correctly, they look like natural teeth.
Veneers are thin, tooth-colored pieces of material that cover the front teeth. Your dental professional can place veneers at the gumline or set them on the teeth. Veneer placement depends on preference and the amount of space between your teeth.
While veneers may cost a pretty penny, they last 10–12 years, which is longer than many other dental procedures. Many people invest in veneers despite the price tag because the stunning results are worth it. Porcelain veneers may be your ticket to that million-dollar smile you’ve dreamed about.
2. Dental Bonding
With dental bonding, your dentist uses resin to cover small teeth and make them bigger. During a dental bonding procedure, your dentist will apply a tooth-colored resin to the surface of your teeth. That resin then hardens, making your teeth larger and more even.
Dentists often use dental bonding to fill large gaps in the teeth or replace older fillings. Bonding treatment typically spans over two dental visits, and there’s very little recovery time. You’ll be able to eat and drink normally right after the procedure.
3. Dental Crowns
If you have minor issues, such as a few small teeth and a bit of unevenness, dental crowns might be the best way to make your teeth look bigger. To give you dental crowns, your dentist will place caps over your existing teeth to make them look bigger and fill in gaps between adjoining teeth.
During a dental crown procedure, your dentist removes the enamel from your tooth and then prepares the remainder of your tooth for the new crown. Thanks to many advances in dental technology, the crown’s color will be the same as your natural teeth. Finally, your dentist will cement the crown permanently in place.
4. Gum Reshaping
Gum reshaping surgery is ideal for those who only need small spaces filled in between their teeth. In this procedure, a skilled dentist or orthodontist carefully sculpts the gum tissue around your teeth, revealing more of each tooth and creating a fuller, more balanced smile. This simple procedure can make a big difference.
5. A Mixture of Procedures
Every case is different. Sometimes, you and your dentist or orthodontist will determine that a mixture of treatments will work best to make your small teeth larger. One example might be someone who wants to fill in the space between their teeth and add length to them simultaneously. In that case, combining dental bonding and gum reshaping will accomplish both your goals.
There’s nothing wrong with having small teeth, but if you dream of a new and improved smile with bigger teeth that will ignite your confidence and encourage your smile, many treatments can help.
Whether you choose porcelain veneers, dental crowns, dental bonding, gum reshaping, or a mixture of treatments, there’s a solution that will result in the teeth you envision for yourself. Talk to your Utah dentist about which treatment suits your circumstances, goals, and budget.