Veneers for short lateral incisors? (Photo)

Question

I've always felt like my lateral incisors are too short. I think I have a good smile but I'd love to improve it. Would veneers benefit me? I love the big Hollywood smile look, but feel like I would need all four or even six anterior teeth done to achieve that. Opinions? Suggestions?

Jennifer Ebner, DDS · Answer

Veneers are a great way to change your smile. There is a lot of changes that can be made to the tooth-size, shape, color etc. If you think you'd like to try a less costly option, composite bonding can achieve the same.

Doug Jopling, DDS · Answer

I actually believe you could improve your smile in the most natural way possible without placing any artificial material on your teeth like veneers.  It is true that your lateral incisors are a little small in appearance.  Your central incisors, however, are a little too prominent and long. This is apparent in the great photos you submitted as the incisal edges are well below the Wet/Dry line of your lower lip.  There is also a little overlap of tooth 9 to tooth 8 which has begun and will worsen over time.  I completely recommend orthodontic therapy instead of any veneers which could possibly require drilling on your beautiful teeth.  I love providing veneers and have done thousands of veneers for patients. I have also treated hundreds of Invisalign cases, and I fervently feel the more conservative and completely natural solution of orthodontic therapy using Invisalign is the best treatment for you. Invisalign could easily lengthen your lateral incisors by extruding them and shorten the Central incisors by intruding them. It would also correct the overlap which has started on 8/9. It would take less than a year to treat with Invisalign and your teeth remain completely natural.

Michael Fulbright, DDS · Answer

You have an amazing smile, however, I do agree that your lateral teeth could be lengthened and porcelain veneers could be the answer for that Hollywood Smile that you love. 
My suggestion would be to place the thin sheets of porcelain on both lateral teeth. This will give you an affordable and natural looking smile, and because the rest of your smile is beautiful, two veneers may be all that you need. 
  
Before you go through with your procedure, it is important that you schedule an appointment with your dentist to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough for any cosmetic dental procedure. If you have tooth decay or gum disease, that will need to be taken care of first. 
  
When you are researching cosmetic dentists, find a practice that has porcelain veneer experience as not all dentists have the expertise to place porcelain veneers. 
  
Good luck with your new smile and thank-you for sharing your pictures. They really do help a lot.

Charles Briscoe, DDS · Answer

Nice Photos!Your lateral incisors are shorter than your centrals, which is considered more youthful.Your central incisors are more dominant, so your laterals appear more petite. The laterals, also,appear more recessed in the upper set of teeth.You have a great smile - lip form is very nice. The teeth can be improved. If you consider porcelain veneers, look at all 8 teeth that show in your smile. Your cuspids are not mirror images of each other - the right cuspid and first bicuspid are out toward the cheek more than the same 2 teeth on the left side.Or, Invisalign would be another option - move all the teeth into ideal alignment and then see if you want to increase the size of the laterals, or any other teeth, with veneers.Either way, you can achieve the smile of your dreams!

N. Summer Lerch, DDS, FAGD - Account Suspended · Answer

HI There,Great question!  And thank you so much for the photos!  They make all the difference.  And the answer to your question is YES.  Yes you have a beautiful smile and beautiful front teeth.  Yes you have smallish lateral teeth.  And Yes that porcelain veneers will make a difference.  I am a Smile Designer first and a Board-Accredited Cosmetic Dentist second.  From your photos I would suggest just two porcelain veneers in your lateral teeth.  That will be the most conservative and the most natural and most affordable for you.  I would suggest:1.  Whiten your teeth first.  Either in office (Zoom maybe), take home trays or Crest WhiteStrips.2.  Interview cosmetic dentists in your area. Ask to see their work.  Make sure they can recreate front teeth so that no one can tell there are two veneers there.  (You can try the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry's [AACD] website for who in your area is Accredited or a Fellow with the AACD.)  Consider you want the dentistry to be invisible. (Follow the link included to see what I mean.)  Nothing will make you more miserable than you seeing some kind of seam line because the dentistry was not invisible.    3.  Invest in yourself.  You will be so happy you did!

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