If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile for whatever reason, it’s likely that porcelain veneers will be a suitable solution to remedy your aesthetics.
Dental veneers are incredibly versatile and applicable to a wide variety of cases. We see a great number of patients walk through our doors, all with different aesthetic problems with their teeth, and we are able to offer quick, long-lasting, and affordable remedies by using porcelain veneers.
We have already touched on many different use cases for veneers on our site, and are now going to discuss whether veneers remain a fantastic choice for individuals with small teeth.
Why are my teeth so small?
Your teeth may be small due to genetic reasons or due to physical trauma. The most common form of trauma that can shorten the teeth is bruxism or parafunction – teeth grinding. Although having weak enamel and biting into hard objects can also reduce tooth size.
If you have some teeth that appear small, this is not automatically the result of a genetic condition. In fact, you may not have what we would define as small teeth at all, your teeth may simply be out of proportion with your face, your smile, and the size of your jaw.
This can still present as a problem for some individuals, who may feel that their smile is affecting their confidence by causing them to be uncomfortable when spending time with family and friends, posing for pictures, or attending events.
After a consultation with a cosmetic dentist, you will be able to advise you on your specific circumstances, and if you are informed that you do have small teeth then you will most likely hear one of two reasons why.
Microdontia
Microdontia is a genetic condition where an individual’s secondary teeth resemble primary teeth because they are small in size and can have gaps in between them, making them appear peg-like.
You can have microdontia across your full mouth or it can be localised to only a set number of teeth. For individuals with localised microdontia, one of the most common microdonts is the lateral incisor.
Individuals with microdontia may find it hard to chew or use their teeth like an individual with typical-sized teeth would. Smaller teeth can also be prone to damage and wear away quicker. This is alongside the problems that individuals with microdontia may face surrounding their confidence and smiling.
Grinding
Repetitive tooth grinding, or bruxism, can wear away at enamel and lead to problems with dental aesthetics by shortening tooth length.
As well as shortening teeth overall, bruxism can also lead to jagged, uneven edges on the circumference of the tooth surface which may be sharp and present as a physical issue as well as an aesthetic one.
Ground down teeth are more noticeable at the front of your mouth, where the teeth are naturally narrower than the molars at the back, although all teeth can become worn through grinding.
Individuals with cavities or who have weak enamel can be more prone to damage by tooth grinding. This is why it is important to practice good dental hygiene and avoid acidic or high in sugar drinks.
Can you make your teeth bigger?
Yes, it is possible for cosmetic dentists to increase the size of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are a great material with which to do this.
Veneers are very thin but strong materials that are applied to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. Despite the association of porcelain with fragility, porcelain veneer materials are able to withstand the wear that organic tooth material can.
For individuals with small teeth, veneers can be applied to lengthen their appearance. Your cosmetic dentist will take moulds of your natural teeth and custom make veneers to suit your needs.
You will leave the clinic after your measuring appointment with temporary veneers so you can get a feel for how your new smile will look once the real veneers are ready to be applied.
Because porcelain veneers are custom made, they can be made to your desired colour. This can either be your natural tooth shade, or you may decide to have your teeth whitened first and then match your veneers to your new colour.
Veneers before and after for small teeth
See an example from our Smile Gallery of a patient who received veneers for small teeth.
In this example, the patient had small lateral and central incisors among other issues. They received eight veneers throughout their jaw and left the clinic with their dream smile.
You can see how the lateral incisor drastically stood out when they smiled due to its small size and the creation of a gap between it the canine.
Now, the patient has between 10-20 years of their dream smile before any of their veneers will need to be replaced. As long as they take good care of their teeth and follow good dental hygiene practices, they should remain happy with their teeth for a long time.
Marylebone Smile Clinic veneer experts
Once again, another brilliant example of how porcelain veneers can be used to create brilliant smiles for our patients. See also veneers for discoloured teeth or veneers for tetracycline stained teeth.
If you have issues with your dental aesthetics and are wondering whether veneers will be right for you, please get in touch and we can organise a consultation to give you more specific help and advice.