If you’re happy with the length of your teeth and the ratio of teeth to gums that show when you smile, you’ve probably never thought about them.
However, if you think you have a smile or short teeth showing your gums, it can make you very uncomfortable every time you look in the mirror or smile.
It’s normal to have cosmetic concerns about the length of your teeth. We associate short teeth with older people because over time, teeth wear with use. This means that older people typically have shorter teeth and often their teeth are not visible when they are not smiling. If your teeth are short, you may look older than you really are as a result.
But don’t worry: you don’t have to live with short teeth! Depending on what’s causing the “short teeth” effect in your smile, there are solutions as well.
What causes teeth to shorten over time?
People often do not realize that their tooth structure is slightly worn, which over time creates a huge change in the appearance of their smile. Just like you may not realize that the sole of the shoe is wearing out until you see the hole. Acidic conditions (acid reflux, bulimia, etc.) have the effect of accelerating wear and weakening the tooth structure.
Depending on the way of grinding, severe wear may occur on the anterior teeth, posterior teeth, or both. Excessive wear at the back of the mouth eventually turns into more wear for the teeth at the front. When the front teeth are affected, the teeth begin to become more translucent at the upper edges and begin to crumble. As these front teeth continue to shorten, the face begins to look much older.
.Gummy Smile
Even if your natural teeth are of normal length, if your gums cover your teeth too much, it can make your teeth appear short. This is when the tooth-to-gum ratio of your smile is uneven and your gums show too much when you smile. cases, it can cause what is often referred to as a “gummy smile”.
The solution to the gummy smile is simple: cosmetic gum reconstruction. In this procedure, your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area and then a soft tissue laser to cut off excess gum tissue. The laser will seal the tissue while your dentist works so you won’t need stitches. This procedure can reveal more of your natural teeth, making your teeth appear longer and balancing the proportion of your smile.
.For Short Teeth
However, not all “short teeth” are the result of overgrown gums. Some people actually have teeth that are shorter than average, in which case gum reconstruction will not help. In these cases, it may make more sense to lengthen your existing teeth with a different procedure.
For example, porcelain veneers can effectively lengthen existing teeth. Veneers are made from durable dental ceramics and are custom-colored and shaped to match your existing teeth, providing a wide range of aesthetic results to make them look as natural as possible. Or in some cases, your dentist may recommend a dental crown instead.
Of course, if your teeth are short due to unusual wear and tear like grinding or clenching your teeth, it’s also important to identify the cause of the problem and fix it so you don’t run into it.
