Do you have small teeth that just look out of place in your smile? Do these teeth make you feel self-conscious? If so, then we can help. Correcting peg laterals and other small teeth can make a big difference in the appearance of your smile and in your self-confidence.
Causes of Peg Lateral Teeth
There are two primary causes of small teeth. The tooth may be a deciduous tooth (“baby tooth”) that wasn’t lost, or it may be an underdeveloped tooth. Both conditions are genetic, so if your parents had them, it’s likely you will too. In fact, peg laterals are dominant, so if either of your parents had them, you can have them.
Peg lateral teeth are a common form of an underdeveloped tooth. It refers to the lateral incisor, which is just to the side of your central incisors. In other words, it’s in a very obvious position where everyone who sees your smile will notice it. People with peg laterals often feel very uncomfortable about them.
Peg Lateral Treatment Options
There are basically two options for correcting peg lateral incisors: dental bonding and porcelain veneers. Dental bonding is relatively quick and inexpensive, but it has its problems. Color matching with your other teeth is less likely to be perfect, and the luster of the composite material won’t be the same as your natural teeth. Dental bonding can lose its shine, becoming dull, and it is more likely to get stained.
Porcelain veneers are more expensive and take longer to complete, but they avoid the problems of dental bonding and can last much longer: ten years or more, compared to two or three years for dental bonding.
Are Orthodontics Necessary?
People with peg lateral teeth and retained baby teeth often do better to get them treated at about the same time as orthodontic treatment. This is because orthodontic treatment can be used to properly space out your teeth and create the area necessary to fit in the new larger tooth.
If your teeth are crowded around a peg lateral tooth, it may be necessary to have orthodontics to create the appropriate space.
We can help with peg teeth, other small teeth, or whatever makes you self-conscious about your smile. To learn more about your options, please call Beyond Exceptional Dentistry in Savannah at (912) 234-8282.
