Short teeth wouldn’t be that big of a problem if they only affected appearance. However, short teeth may cause some jaw problems, teeth grinding problems, and affect the quality of a smile. Here’s how to fix short teeth and what causes them in the first place.
What Causes Short Teeth?
Short teeth are mostly the results of genetic conditions, but they may also be caused by daily wear. What follows are the most common causes of short teeth.
Teeth Wear
Teeth wear, or occlusal wear, affects the teeth' enamel (biting surface). Due to excessive teeth grinding, the enamel surface gets worn down.
Microdontia
Microdontia is a common oral problem that results in teeth being smaller than average. In some cases, it may be just one or two teeth. In others, most teeth will be shorter than average.
Excessive Gum Tissue
In some cases, the teeth itself is not short. However, excessive gum tissue makes the teeth look shorter, so people mistake the appearance for short teeth.
How to Fix Short Teeth
Here are the most common methods to fix short teeth
Cosmetic Veneers
Veneers are the most popular method to fix short teeth. They can be either composite or porcelain.
If you don’t know what a veneer is, it’s a thin shell placed to cover the front of the teeth, covering the gaps.
Veneers are a cosmetic treatment, so they’re mostly not included in health insurance. Unfortunately, they’re not among the affordable teeth treatments.
Dental Bonding
In this method, a composite resin with shades of colors similar to that of the patient’s teeth is used. The resin is curved, shaped, cured with UV light, polished, and sculpted to fill the place of the missing teeth.
This method is convenient and affordable. Several teeth may be fixed in a single visit. However, it’s recommended to fix a few teeth rather than most of the mouth.
Dental bonding may not be as strong and as durable as dental veneers. However, it’s a quick fix that may last 5–10 years, provided the patient is taking good care of the teeth.
Dental Crowns
Crowns are stronger and more durable than bonding with composite resin. They’re basically porcelain caps that can be fitted to the top of the tooth.
To install a crown to a tooth, it has to be prepared first, and impressions are taken. Afterward, the crown is made and returned to the dentist for fitting and adjustments.
Crowns can be expensive compared to bonding and may require several dentist visits.
Gum Reshaping
Gum reshaping or gum contouring is a procedure that removes extra gum tissues with a laser or scalpel to expose more teeth.
It’s primarily used in the case of excessive gum tissue.
Conclusion
While having short teeth isn’t life-threatening, it can affect someone’s self-esteem and bring down their confidence in their smile.
This problem may arise because of teeth wear, microdontia, or excessive gum tissue. However, it can be fixed both cosmetically and dentally using the abovementioned methods.