Can a Cosmetic Dentist Help With Worn or Short Teeth?

If your smile has been worn down over time due to issues like bruxism (grinding) or if you were simply born with smaller-than-average teeth, a cosmetic dentist can provide options to help you achieve the smile that you desire. Many people are self-conscious about their smiles due to the color of their teeth or crookedness, for example, but for some patients, the issue is related to the size of the teeth themselves.

The right treatments will depend on exactly why your teeth look the way they do. A cosmetic dentist can review the state of your mouth and help you choose a procedure that suits your goals.

Potential solutions for worn or short teeth

Sometimes, teeth are short because they have been worn down over time. In other cases, small teeth are natural or are merely obscured by thick gums. The right solution depends on the underlying cause of the teeth’s current appearance.

If the teeth have been damaged

Bruxism, an uneven bite, acidic foods and drinks, and even habits like chewing on ice can all wear down the teeth over time. If a patient's smile has small gaps and inconsistencies due to teeth that are not long enough to form a consistent bite, a common solution is dental bonding.

Bonding uses tooth-compatible material to restore the original shape of the tooth. This often includes building it up and shaping it to resemble the nearby teeth. The bonding agent can be color-matched to the smile, making the modification unnoticeable.

If the teeth are naturally short

If the patient was born with small teeth, a cosmetic dentist can also perform dental bonding to lengthen them. However, many instances of “small” or short teeth are caused by a gummy smile, or too much gum tissue. The dentist can perform a procedure called gum contouring, which evens out the gumline and removes the excess tissue to reveal more of a tooth’s surface. This makes the teeth look longer and more natural.

If the teeth are worn from decay

Decay is one potential cause of worn teeth. However, a cosmetic dentist cannot perform aesthetic procedures on teeth that are currently compromised by decay and damage. If a patient is suffering from dental decay or gingivitis, they need to seek treatment before any cosmetic procedures can begin.

The good news is that if they need a service like a filling, that should not interfere with cosmetic work later. Focus on treating decay before addressing the aesthetics of the teeth!