110 – Are Short Teeth Common
Are Short Teeth Common?
The problem of small teeth is more common than you might think. It is caused by the disproportion between the area of the teeth and the gum, which can be the result of excessive bone or gum growth, small lips, or poorly developed tooth crowns. The problem is more present in women and is usually defined by genetic factors, resulting in what dentists call a high gummy smile.
How to characterize an adult’s tooth as small?
The shape of each tooth can vary from one person to another. The important thing is that there is harmony in the smile, which favors both oral health and self-esteem. Some people, however, have teeth that are a little smaller than average, in which case the complaint should be made to a professional. The dentist or dental surgeon, through an analysis of your entire face, can detect this problem. This analysis is based on a ratio of teeth to gum and mouth size and can be done through measurements, scans, and/or x-rays.
If short teeth are a problem for you, there are treatments that can reverse this condition. The good news is that, nowadays, there are many ways to reverse this situation that you and your dentist can explore, based on your particular case.
Veneers or Dental Contact Lenses
Your dentist can change the shape and size of teeth through veneers or dental contact lenses (commonly called Lumineers). These veneers or lenses must be molded specifically for the topography of your mouth and teeth. After analyzing the face, the dentist makes an impression of the dental arch and sends it to the prosthesis laboratory, where the prosthetist can make new teeth in the ideal shape for that patient.
Cosmetic surgery of the gums
Plastic surgery of the gums remodels the gum through the removal of extra gum tissues, making a greater area of the tooth exposed. That is, to make it clear, it is not the tooth that grows, but the gum that shrinks, and the part that was previously covered by the gum will be the beginning of the new tooth in this new tooth, exposed in this new design. This surgery is also highly indicated for those who suffer from the so-called gummy smile, when the gums are exposed when smiling, which may be directly linked to your problem, as many people who have short teeth also have a gummy smile.
The procedure itself is relatively simple and the recovery is quick, which means that the results are observed quickly by the patient, thus a short healing period. All of this makes gingival plastic surgery one of the procedures with the highest level of satisfaction in cosmetic dentistry.
Botulinum Toxin in Cosmetic Dentistry
The use of botulinum toxin is a classic example of this, serving not only to mitigate imperfections, but to add aesthetic value and enhance treatment through facial rejuvenation. The toxin present in the substance has the ability to control muscle contractions. When the appearance of the smile is not harmonious due to the excessive exposure of the gums when the lips are open, and not because the teeth are short, products such as Botox® essentially make it so that the muscles around your mouth are relaxed, making it so teeth and gums are exposed in a more balanced way.