3 Ways to Fix Small Teeth

When looking through old photos with friends, you noticed something: your smile looks a lot shorter than theirs. This is called microdontia, a condition that causes one or more of a person’s teeth to develop or appear to be smaller than average. Though having small teeth can be hereditary, it may also be a symptom of a genetic disorder, a developmental issue like cleft palate, or the side-effect of being exposed to radiation. Having short teeth can also be caused by excessive wear due to teeth grinding or damage. Fortunately, there are ways that your dentist can fix small teeth. Read on to learn about a few common causes of microdontia and how to make your teeth look bigger.

3 Possible Causes of Microdontia

Now that you understand what microdontia is, what are the different forms of this condition? The three main categories of microdontia are:

• Localized – When microdontia is localized, this means that only one or a few of one’s pearly whites are smaller than average. This may impact the root or crown of the tooth and usually affects the upper teeth. This is also the most common form of this condition.
• Relative generalized – Fore this type of microdontia, the teeth may be of average size but look small due to the gums extending too far over the teeth or the jaw being larger than average.
• True generalized – This can be caused by a condition such as pituitary dwarfism, also called growth hormone deficiency, in which the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough growth hormone. This causes all the teeth to be smaller than average.

3 Ways to Fix Microdontia

There are several procedures that your dentist can use to make your teeth look bigger, including:

• Dental crowns – These tooth-colored caps surround the entire visible part of a tooth, which is called the crown. They can be made from a range of materials, including porcelain resin, metal, and ceramic. Though they are often used to repair damaged pearly whites, they can also make themlook larger.
• Cosmetic dental bonding – A composite resin is color-matched to your smile to cover up imperfections. They can be used to slightly reshape the teeth so that they look longer.
• Porcelain veneers – These thin porcelain shells are custom-made and completely cover the front of your teeth. Your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel so that the veneers can better adhere to your pearly whites and blend with the rest of your smile. They can change the size and shape of teeth to make them appear larger.

If your small teeth are preventing you from loving your smile, speak with your dentist about one of the above options to correct them. Soon, you’ll have a uniform, proportionate smile you’ll want to show off to the world!

About the Practice

Small teeth aren’t a danger to your oral health, but you can have them corrected for a more gorgeous grin with one of the many services that the talented Grand Island team at Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry offers. Veneers, dental bonding, and crowns are all great ways to correct this issue and will have your smile looking lovely in no time. If you want to make an appointment with Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry or want more information on their services to correct microdontia, visit their website or call their office at (308) 382-4440.