My teeth are small. Should I get
porcelain veneers?
Question:
My teeth are very straight and white, and have no
gaps (they are healthy), and I am currently using
invisible braces to
correct minor problems. The only problem is they are very small and
when I smile you can barely even see them. I've always wanted a smile that
was big and beautiful that shows off my teeth, and I was wondering if
porcelain veneers could make my small teeth look bigger and nicer?
And I've read
that in normal cases reduction is necessary, but if my teeth are already
small and I'm just trying to
make my teeth bigger (not fix any problems such as
crooked teeth or
discoloration) could the dentist not do the reduction part?
Thanks!
—Carissa from Virginia
Dear Carissa,
Yes, absolutely, porcelain veneers are a great way to make small teeth not
only look bigger but actually be
larger. But you need to go to an expert cosmetic
dentist—not just the dentist down the street. This requires a careful
artistic eye.
As far as reducing your teeth for porcelain veneers, yes, there are
ways to put porcelain veneers on without reducing your teeth. Lumineer
veneers are very thin, and this can be done with
Lumineers. Again, be sure you're in the hands of an expert cosmetic
dentist. But the amount of reduction is very small—about the thickness of
a fingernail. Ask about this when you go for your consultation.
We have a page on our site with information about the
typical porcelain veneer procedure.
You may also want to read a little about smile design. Here we discuss
the factors that go into designing a smile. For example, did you know that
having your two front teeth (your central incisors) be a little larger
than the lateral incisors makes you look a little sexier, a little more
bold, and younger? And having the teeth be all the same length makes you
look more sophisticated and mature? Read our
smile design page for these tips.
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