What Can Your Dentist Do For Too-Large Front Teeth?

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Do you feel like your front teeth are too large? Feeling self-conscious about your smile can make you apprehensive about smiling or speaking in public and can really impact your self-confidence. Instead of continuing to live with your too-large front teeth, consider working with a cosmetic dentist to correct this issue. Here's a look at three treatments your dentist may recommend, depending on your unique circumstances.

Tooth reshaping.

If your front teeth are just a little bit too large, a cosmetic dentist may recommend just grinding them down to a smaller size. This can only be safely done to a certain extent. If too much tooth material is removed, the strength and integrity of your tooth will be negatively impacted.

The procedure of grinding down your teeth is quite simple. First, your dentist will talk with you about just how you want your teeth to be reshaped. He or she will make sure your expectations are realistic. X-rays will be taken so your dentist can determine exactly how much enamel can safely be removed without compromising the health of your teeth. You'll be given a local anesthetic to prevent any discomfort during the procedure, and then your dentist will use a file to reshape your teeth to the specifications that the two of you discussed. Your teeth might be a bit sensitive for a few days after your procedure, but this sensitivity will wear off in time. Using a sensitivity toothpaste may help.

Gum grafts.

A great way to make your front teeth appear smaller is to have additional gum tissue added near the base of your teeth. This way, less of your teeth will actually be visible, so they will look smaller. Gum grafts may sometimes be used in combination with tooth reshaping to correct teeth that are mildly to moderately oversized. The procedure involves removing some tissue from the roof of your mouth and attaching it to your current gum line.

Prior to your gum graft procedure, your dentist will likely administer a sedative to help you relax, along with a local anesthetic to ensure you don't feel any pain. When the procedure is over, you'll experience some soreness both in the roof of your mouth where the tissue was removed and at the gum line. You'll have to stick to soft foods and avoid brushing the affected area for a week or two, but once you're healed, your teeth will look smaller, thanks to better gum coverage.

Enlarging the side teeth.

Oftentimes, when your front teeth look too large, the problem is not actually that your front teeth are too big, but rather that your side incisions are too small in comparison. Enlarging the side incisors can make the front teeth look more appropriately sized.

If you and your dentist decide that this is the right choice for you, he or she will likely recommend enlarging the side teeth by covering them with veneers. Veneers are simply thin sheets of porcelain that are cemented to the front of teeth. In your case, the veneers will be made larger than your side teeth. Once they're in place, when someone looks at you, they will see the veneers rather than your small side teeth. Since the veneers will be closer in size to your front teeth, your front teeth will look proportional instead of too large.

Having veneers put into place is simple and painless. However, since a thin layer of enamel needs to be removed in order to attach the veneers, once you begin wearing them, you will need to stick with them for life.

If your front teeth look too big, don't go on living with self-consciousness and a smile you hate. Talk to a cosmetic dentist at a clinic like TLC Dental Center to learn more about these options for making your teeth look smaller.


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