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Planning and Preparing for Dental Procedures: Your Questions Answered


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Planning and Preparing for Dental Procedures: Your Questions Answered

Making decisions about your smile can be confusing. Should you have a tooth pulled or get a root canal? Should you get adult braces or stick with a retainer? Should you use at-home whitening remedies or have your teeth professionally whitened? If questions like these are keeping you up at night, you've come to the right place. I used to stress out over routine dental procedures, and as a result, I did loads of research on everything dental-related. To help others, I'm using this blog as a place to collect, review and share what I've learned through the years. I hope you can use the information here to help you plan and prepare for your next dental appointment.

Why Do Your Teeth Look Short?

People's teeth are not all the same. The colour, alignment and even size of teeth can vary. While this isn't always a problem, various cosmetic differences affect some people. For example, if your teeth are shorter than the norm, then you may be self-conscious and reluctant to smile big. Your teeth may look a little stubby compared to other people's teeth.

Why do you have shorter teeth and is there anything you can do to make them look longer?

Why Teeth Are Short

Often, teeth that look short aren't actually that short at all. They are a regular size but are hidden from view by large or overgrown gums. In this case, a lot of the surface of the teeth is dwarfed by excess gums. The teeth are in there but look short because you can't see much of them in proportion to your gums.

However, some people's teeth are actually a little shorter than they should be. This may be due to genetics or to wear and tear. The more teeth are used, the more they may wear down. This shortening is worse if you have a tooth-grinding habit. Constant grinding can make teeth smaller.

How to Make Short Teeth Look Longer

If you're really unhappy with the way your teeth look, then a cosmetic treatment may help. Depending on the reason why your teeth look short, your dentist can make them look a little longer.

For example, if your gums are the problem rather than your teeth, then your dentist can give you a gum lift. This treatment uses a special laser to remove some of the gum to raise or lower its line (depending on whether they are top teeth or bottom teeth). By raising the gum line, you uncover more of your teeth. Your smile should then be toothier rather than gummy; your teeth will look longer in your mouth.

If wear and tear or genetics are behind your shorter teeth, then changing the shape and size of your gums won't be an effective solution. However, your dentist will have other fixes for these problems.

For example, veneers can add length to shorter teeth. You can have a veneer fitted that is longer than the current tooth. This makes it look less short. Crowns are also an option if you don't want veneers or aren't a suitable candidate for a veneer procedure.

If you've had enough of your short teeth, then go and see a dentist like those at Enfield Dental Clinic. They can talk you through suitable cosmetic procedures and help you pick one to make your teeth look longer.