How Can I Get My Small Adult Teeth to Look Larger?

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I am a 37-year-old adult, but my teeth are small and look like baby teeth. I feel like only my gums show when I smile, and the tiny teeth beneath them are almost invisible. It is embarrassing. My friends try to comfort me by saying it’s better than having teeth that are too large, but I need to feel confident and smile more. How can I get my teeth enlarged, at least the ones that show when I smile? – Thank you. Imari from MD

Imari,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Brooksher’s office. Although he would need to examine and x-ray your teeth, we will explain two options for enlarging small adult teeth.

How Can You Make Small Adult Teeth Larger?

You can make small adult teeth larger with the help of a cosmetic dentist. Two treatment options include dental bonding and porcelain veneers. We will compare how the options can transform your smile.

How Do Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers Enlarge Small Teeth?

Dental bonding and porcelain veneers enlarge small teeth by using cosmetic dentistry to expand their appearance. The treatment options have different procedures, materials, longevity, and costs. Let us explain.

Dental bonding

Below we explain dental bonding composition, procedure, longevity, maintenance, and the average cost for enlarging small adult teeth.

  • Composition. Dental bonding is a blend of plastic resin and silica filler. Bonding material has properties like tooth dentin (the layer beneath the enamel). A cosmetic dentist can polish bonding to a natural-looking gloss.
  • Procedure. After lightly etching your tooth enamel, a skilled cosmetic dentist blends composite and layers it by hand to achieve your desired tooth shape and size.
  • Longevity. Dental bonding is less durable than porcelain and has a shorter lifespan. High-quality bonding can last five years or longer if you care for it well and maintain it with a cosmetic dentist’s help. A study published in a 2011 Japanese Dental Science Review issue concluded that at least 60 percent of high-quality dental bonding could last up to ten years.
  • Maintenance. Floss between your teeth and use a soft-bristled brush and nonabrasive toothpaste. Dental bonding is not stain resistant, but a cosmetic dentist can polish it for you.
  • Cost. Chairside bonding costs $300 to $1,000 per tooth. The price depends on the condition of your teeth, the extent of work, the dentist’s skills and fees, and your location in the U.S.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers composition, procedure, longevity, maintenance, and cost differ from dental bonding in several ways, which we will explain.

  • Composition. A dental ceramist can craft porcelain to mimic the color and characteristics of natural teeth while making your small teeth look more prominent. Porcelain veneers contain dental ceramics and are more durable than tooth enamel.
  • Procedure. Your cosmetic dentist may recommend conservatively preparing your teeth for porcelain veneers by moving tiny amounts of enamel from their fronts. After taking impressions of your teeth, your cosmetic dentist will make temporary veneers to determine whether they require adjustments. You will get custom veneers after you approve the temporary ones.
  • Longevity. Well-made and precisely bonded porcelain veneers can last about 20 years. A 2021 European Journal of Dentistry article published findings from a cumulative, long-term study on the lifespan of porcelain veneers in patients with good oral health and oral hygiene habits. The results after five, ten, fifteen, and 20 years are below:
    • Five years: 98%
    • Ten years: 96%
    • Fifteen years: 91%
    • Twenty years: 91%
  • Maintenance. Schedule dental cleanings and exams with a trained cosmetic dentist. You can floss and brush your veneers as your natural teeth but avoid abrasive substances.
  • Cost. One porcelain veneer can cost $1,500 to $3,500 depending on tooth condition, personalization, veneer quality, and your dentist’s fees.

Request a Consultation for Enlarging Small Adult Teeth

Enlarging small adult teeth is a cosmetic dentistry technique that requires artistry and advanced training. We recommend scheduling consultations with at least two highly trained cosmetic dentists to discuss your options.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post. Request a consultation with Dr. Brooksher today.

Before and after pictures of small adult teeth that look larger with dental bonding

Dr. Brooksher used dental bonding to make this patient’s front small adult teeth look larger.

 

My Dental Bonding Is Too Thick

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After I chipped my right center tooth and the one behind it last September, my dentist applied bonding on them. But the bonding did not match my teeth. She did the bonding twice, and with her previous attempt, the bonding is tooth thick. I can see and feel the difference. Although my dentist tried to correct it by shaving it down, the tooth still looks thick but distorted in shape. My dentist suggested that we try porcelain veneers to cover the whole tooth, and a lab can contour them. I don’t want my dentist to do any more work on my teeth. Is it too late to start over with another dentist, or will removing the bonding damage my teeth and require veneers? Thank you. Cassie from OK

Cassie,

Thank you for your question. Your thoughts about not letting your dentist do any more work on your teeth are valid. Your dentist’s lack of training and experience with cosmetic work prevents her from giving you natural-looking results.

Natural-Looking Dental Bonding

Natural-looking dental bonding requires advanced training and an artistic eye for a dentist to select mixed colors, textures, and translucence to match your teeth. Then a dentist must apply bonding by hand and sculpt it on your teeth to achieve your natural tooth shape. Few dentists can manage to bond well enough to make it look so realistic that you cannot tell your tooth was ever damaged. More dentists can do a good job but not as well as a trained cosmetic dentist. It seems that your dentist has no cosmetic training at all.

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

If you want dental bonding instead of veneers, see an advanced cosmetic dentist

We recommend that you search for an advanced, preferably accredited, cosmetic dentist to examine your teeth. A skilled dentist understands how to remove bonding without damaging your teeth and reapply it to match your tooth color and shape. It will not look too thick. And it can prevent the need for porcelain veneers.

If your current dental bonding looks inferior, your dentist should agree and be willing to compensate you instead of offering porcelain veneers. You may request a refund from your dentist and hope she is reasonable.

Best wishes on a smooth resolution.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Will removing and reapplying dental bonding damage my teeth?

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Brunette woman with her hands covering her mouth - for info on repeat dental bonding and Invisalign from Dr. Brookser in Baton RougeMy dentist and I agreed to a treatment plan that would end with Invisalign treatment. I wanted to feel better about my teeth before I started Invisalign. So, my dentist whitened my teeth and replaced old dental bonding. But the color of the bonding does not match my white teeth.

Some of the bonding is near the gumline, and it feels rough and looks gross. When my dentist finished the work, I immediately noticed that the bonding color was off. I told her about it, and she agreed that she did not match the color. After two attempts, she still cannot get it right. I want to begin Invisalign treatment, so I am willing to see another dentist to redo the bonding and go back to my dentist for Invisalign. Will repeatedly removing and reapplying bonding damage my teeth? Thank you. Elliana from Missouri

 

Elliana,

Thank you for your inquiry. We are sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with dental bonding, especially when looking forward to starting Invisalign treatment.

Correcting Mismatched Dental Bonding

When dental bonding does not match your natural teeth, you may have two options for correcting the color.

  • Resurfacing – A cosmetic dentist might be able to remove some of the surfaces of the bonding and apply another color of composite
  • Replacing – Cosmetic dentists use dental burs that can remove bonding without damaging your tooth structure. Afterward, the dentist can apply fresh bonding

Dental Bonding Near Your Gumline

When you need dental bonding near your gumline, abfraction lesions, or notches, are usually the cause. Enamel near the gumline can wear away and leave sensitive notches on your teeth. Lesions are most often caused by clenching your teeth. Pressure from clenching weakens teeth. A dentist who uses bonding to conceal lesions and protect tooth roots must consider these factors:

  • Stiff bonding can loosen or pop out as your teeth flex
  • Flexible composite bends with pressure on teeth and can help fillings stay in place
  • If you clench or grind your teeth, a dentist can make a custom nighttime mouth guard to minimize the habit and protect your teeth

If you are unsure of your dentist’s ability to replace your dental bonding and match your natural teeth this time, schedule a consultation with a skilled cosmetic dentist.  You will get natural-looking results. Best wishes on a resolution and a smooth transition to Invisalign.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, sponsors this post.