Dental Care for All of Us

Genetics are to blame for a lot of the physical variations that you see in your mouth. And, if your parents had small teeth, then this means that you are likely to have them too. Unfortunately, this can make your smile look unsatisfactory. The good news is that cosmetic dentists have a variety of services that they can offer to help correct the small tooth issue. 

Crown Placement

If your teeth are small, then your dental professional may fix the problem by making your teeth larger. This can be accomplished by cementing artificial caps on the teeth. And, you have two different options. Your dentist can either use crowns or veneers. Crowns are typically restorative in nature, but they have the ability to increase strength and durability while also expanding each tooth a small amount. So, if your small teeth are weak, sensitive, or thin, then crowns are a good choice. 

Crowns are permanent restorations and can cost over $1,000 for a single crown. For this reason, you must be prepared to invest $10,000 or more in the service. 

If whole mouth crowning is out of your price range, then ask about the use of crowns on the incisors and canines alone. The crowns can be made for both the upper and lower structures of the mouth with expansion to the premolars if you want a wider smile in the future. 

Crowns can be made from either porcelain or zirconia and the thickness of the crown will depend on the material. Zirconia crowns are typically a bit thinner with a thickness of about 1.0 mm. Porcelain must be about 1.5 mm for strength purposes. Thicker crowns mean more enamel removal during preparation. Speak to your cosmetic dentist about what this means for your oral health.

Gum Alterations

If your teeth are healthy with a strong layer of enamel, then you may be hesitant to choose a dental service that alters the structural integrity of the teeth. In this situation, the gums can be altered instead. 

Gum alterations allow your dentist to expose more of each tooth. This lengthens the tooth and gives the appearance of a larger smile. The most common alteration is called gum reshaping or contouring. Essentially, the gums are cut away and rounded across the exposed aspect of the tooth. 

Since the tooth roots are exposed during the process, your dentist will use fluoride treatments, bonding agents, or sealing compounds over the dental roots. This helps to protect them from decay and it also reduces sensitivity issues. 

For more information on these procedures, reach out to local cosmetic dental services.