Want bigger teeth - what is the right procedure for me? (photo)

Question

I have very small teeth and am looking into procedures to make them appear bigger. I’m not sure the right procedure. Gum reduction? Veneers? When I smile, you mostly see my gums. My teeth are also square shape which I would like to change.

Beau Keller, DDS · Answer

From your photo and description, there are a few different ways a cosmetic dentist could approach making your teeth appear longer and reducing the amount of gum that shows when you smile.
One option I would consider exploring before committing to veneers is a conservative laser gum lift, or gingivectomy. This removes excess gum tissue and exposes more of the natural tooth underneath. In some patients, simply raising the gum line can make the teeth look significantly longer and improve the overall proportions of the smile without changing the teeth themselves.
There are generally two ways the gum line can be raised. The simpler approach is a gingivectomy, where only gum tissue is removed, often with a dental laser. If a larger amount of gum needs to be raised, there may not be enough space to safely remove only the gum tissue. In that situation, a periodontist may recommend crown lengthening, which can involve removing or reshaping a small amount of the bone underneath the gums so the gum line can be positioned higher while maintaining a healthy relationship between the gum and the underlying bone.
Porcelain veneers are another option and can be used to make the teeth look longer, alter the square shape you mentioned, and change the overall proportions of the smile. Veneers can also be combined with either a laser gum lift or crown lengthening. In fact, when someone wants a more substantial smile transformation, we frequently plan the gum line and the veneers together so the new tooth lengths and shapes are designed as one complete smile.
So your main options would be:
* A conservative laser gum lift alone first, then reassess how you like the appearance.* Crown lengthening if a more significant gum lift is required.* Veneers to change the length and shape of the teeth.* A gum lift or crown lengthening combined with veneers for the greatest overall change.
Since you are specifically concerned about both the amount of gum showing and the square shape of your teeth, I would have a cosmetic dentist evaluate how much improvement you could realistically get from gum lifting alone before deciding whether veneers are necessary.

Patricia Moezinia, DDS · Answer

The gummy smile can have several causes and depending on whether it is a cause will be the solution, it can be orthognathic surgery, orthodontics, or crown lengthening. Although more studies are needed, from what you can see in the picture, with the technique of crown lengthening, you will achieve an improvement in the appearance in terms of vertical size of your teeth. After the necessary healing time after this surgery, you should analyze the possibility of veneers to change the shape of your teeth.

Roberto Arce, DDS · Answer

Hello, you show much of your gums when smiling. Being very conservative we should suggest crown lengthening (gum reduction) and that would make your teeth look longer naturally, then you could decide over having porcelain veneers to change shape and color. Another suggestion would be having botox on that area to reduce your lip pulling up so much and showing less gum.

Want bigger teeth - what is the right procedure for me? (photo)

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