What is the best procedure when one of your top front tooth is longer than the other? My two top front teeth are in pretty good shape but my left one is slightly longer than the other.
August 24, 2012
Answer: Aligning teeth with disproportionate lengths.
When tooth length varies, there are a few options to fix the problem. First, there are a few reasons a tooth may appear longer.
-Receded gum tissue_loss of gum tissue can give the appearance of a longer tooth. In this case a gum graft may be necessary.
-Tooth position_ a tooth in a forward or angled position may appear longer. An appliance to move the tooth into position would work well here.
-Grinding or tooth interference_The adjacent tooth may be worn or interfering with an opposing tooth, causing it to be too short, and surrounding teeth to look long. A bite evaluation would be necessary to find the best resolution.
-Tooth size discrepancy_ Sometimes teeth form too small or too large. Sometimes they don't fully erupt into the mouth or they come down too far. The tooth that is abnormally sized or erupted can have its shape and length modified by a reduction of enamel to reshape it (enameloplasty), or by adding bulk with cosmetic restorative materials such as bonding.
Helpful
August 24, 2012
Answer: Aligning teeth with disproportionate lengths.
When tooth length varies, there are a few options to fix the problem. First, there are a few reasons a tooth may appear longer.
-Receded gum tissue_loss of gum tissue can give the appearance of a longer tooth. In this case a gum graft may be necessary.
-Tooth position_ a tooth in a forward or angled position may appear longer. An appliance to move the tooth into position would work well here.
-Grinding or tooth interference_The adjacent tooth may be worn or interfering with an opposing tooth, causing it to be too short, and surrounding teeth to look long. A bite evaluation would be necessary to find the best resolution.
-Tooth size discrepancy_ Sometimes teeth form too small or too large. Sometimes they don't fully erupt into the mouth or they come down too far. The tooth that is abnormally sized or erupted can have its shape and length modified by a reduction of enamel to reshape it (enameloplasty), or by adding bulk with cosmetic restorative materials such as bonding.
Helpful
July 18, 2011
Answer: Wonder why they don't match?
Before you have anything permanent done to your front teeth, and polishing the longer/veneering the shorter are two good ideas, be sure to explore why they don't match.
There are many possibilities, but if you've worn down that shorter one, why did your bite do that? Look into that situation, especially before you have something like a porcelain veneer. If you make the longer one match, then continue to wear down the shorter one, eventually you'll have them both too short to look good.
Helpful
July 18, 2011
Answer: Wonder why they don't match?
Before you have anything permanent done to your front teeth, and polishing the longer/veneering the shorter are two good ideas, be sure to explore why they don't match.
There are many possibilities, but if you've worn down that shorter one, why did your bite do that? Look into that situation, especially before you have something like a porcelain veneer. If you make the longer one match, then continue to wear down the shorter one, eventually you'll have them both too short to look good.
Helpful