How Can Small Teeth Be Made Bigger?
Many patients have congenitally small teeth—they were born that way—while for others, their teeth appear to have gotten smaller as they grew older, perhaps because they were crowded or crooked earlier in life, or are being worn down through years of use, jaw clenching, and grinding.
If you find that you are self-conscious about the appearance of your teeth or smile, it is certainly worth a consultation with your dental professional to determine which procedure will work for you and provide the results you want.
Thankfully, there are many treatment options when it comes to correcting small teeth and making your smile bigger and brighter. Here are some of the most common and effective:
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding can be used to make teeth bigger by covering small teeth with a resin material. This type of treatment is great for people who have larger gaps between their teeth or fillings that need replacement. Bonding typically takes two visits, and you’ll be able to eat normally just after the procedure.
Teeth that are too small or uneven can be made bigger with dental bonding. Dental bonding is a procedure in which tooth-colored composite resin is applied to the surface of the teeth. The resin hardens, making your teeth larger and more even.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are another option to make teeth look bigger. These thin pieces of tooth-colored material are used to cover your front teeth. Veneers can be attached at the gum line or set on top of the teeth, depending on patient preferences and how much space exists between your teeth. Veneers may cost more than other treatments, but they will typically last longer than many other procedures.
Dental Veneers are also a popular solution if you want to improve the appearance of small or misaligned teeth. They create a new layer of a highly resistant material that is bonded to your teeth. This not only improves the shape and size of your teeth but also the color as well.
Gum Reshaping
If you only need a small amount of space between your teeth, then you can choose to have gum reshaping surgery. A dentist or orthodontist will make incisions in the gums around the teeth to remove tissue and recounter the area around the crown, allowing your teeth to look large and in charge. This treatment works best for patients with very small teeth or those who only need to add a little bit of space. Gum reshaping has been shown to improve self-esteem and help patients smile more freely.
Dental Crowns
If you have just a few teeth that are small and uneven, dental crowns may be a good option. Dental crowns are caps that are placed over existing teeth to make them look bigger and fill in gaps between two adjoining teeth. Your dentist will remove the existing enamel from your tooth, then prepare the remainder of your tooth for the crown. The color will be matched to that of your natural teeth, and the crown will then be permanently cemented in place.
Custom Combination
Sometimes a mix of treatments works well for people who have small teeth. For example, if you need a lot of space between your teeth and want to add length to them at the same time, you might be able to do both with dental bonding followed by gum reshaping.
Summary
It’s great that you are thinking about ways to make your smile larger than life. The size and appearance of teeth you might feel are too small can be readily corrected. Take some time to think about what treatment will work best for you.
Are there other factors like cost or the length of recovery time you need answers to before proceeding? If so, don’t hesitate to ask!
