How Do You Fix Short Teeth
If your teeth are shorter or smaller than average, you might feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about smiling, and this could affect your confidence and quality of life. In many cases, the problems caused by short teeth extend beyond the cosmetic, however, so, even if you’re not bothered by the appearance of your short teeth, it might be recommended that you fix them. The condition of having short teeth is called microdontia, which can appear in all the teeth in a person’s mouth or in only one or a few. When a person has one tooth or a few teeth that are shorter than the others, the pressures of eating become imbalanced, leading to greater damage to the teeth and pain that can radiate from the jaw into the neck and head. If one tooth is narrower than the others, the area could become a breeding ground for bacteria and debris. Clearly, the reasons for fixing short teeth can go far beyond a person’s smile. You and your dentist can address underlying reasons for short teeth, and you’ll also review your options for cosmetic restoration. These options include dental bonding, porcelain or composite veneers, dental crowns, and gum surgeries that reshape or reduce the gingival tissue.
Dental bonding treatments use a composite resin material, the same color as the teeth, to build up, repair, or boost the size of the teeth. When microdontia is minor and affects only one tooth, dental bonding can be an appropriate and affordable option, though it’s not recommended for more serious treatment needs.
Dentists use the resin material to sculpt layers onto the tooth, matching the resin with your natural teeth and hardening the material with a UV light between layers. This treatment can often be completed in a single visit, but the material isn’t particularly durable and is subject to staining and wear. Porcelain crowns are more durable, and more expensive, than dental composite bonding and are often recommended for more serious cases of microdontia, or when a patient simply prefers a longer-lasting dental restoration. Placing a crown requires a few dental visits, but crowns are highly realistic looking and sturdy and can last for many years, as long as the oral health is maintained.
Dental veneers can be made of porcelain or dental composite. These cosmetic dental treatments are thin sheets that cover the fronts of the teeth, making the teeth look longer, wider, and whiter, as the patient desires. Porcelain veneers are more natural-looking and stronger than composite veneers and are also more expensive and invasive. Dental veneers are an effective, permanent way to modify the appearance of the smile but aren’t recommended when a significant amount of natural tooth is missing, as they require natural tooth structure for support. When a smile seems short-toothed, sometimes it’s actually because of the gum tissue and not the size of the teeth. When excess gum tissue extends onto the teeth and creates a gummy smile, your dentist might recommend a gum contouring surgery, using a scalpel or laser to expose more of the tooth surface and reshape the gum line.