What Causes Short Teeth?
Short teeth can affect your confidence and cause issues with eating and speaking. They can be caused by genetics or can develop from excessive wear and tear. Identifying the cause of your short teeth is essential to identify the appropriate solution. Once determined, your dentist can provide the treatment to restore the appearance and function of your healthy smile.
Genetic Causes or Microdontia
You may have teeth that are not only short but are also smaller and may look more like baby teeth than adult teeth. This is called microdontia and is usually the result of a genetic condition.
There are three distinct kinds of microdontia. The first, generalized microdontia, is if all your teeth are abnormally small or short. This is the rarest type and can be caused by dwarfism, Down’s syndrome, or from chemotherapy or radiation treatment during tooth development. Second, relatively generalized microdontia is if you do not actually have small teeth, but your teeth appear smaller because your jaw is larger. Third, localized microdontia is the most common variety. This is when only one tooth is small, often an upper lateral incisor.
Short Teeth from Excessive Wear and Tear
In many cases, short teeth will develop over time. This can happen for varied reasons, including:
* Erosive Wear- Erosive wear can occur if your teeth are exposed to acidic substances on a regular basis. This can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic erosive tooth wear is from exposure to gastric acids over time. One possible cause is a reflux disorder, GERD, which is a condition where your stomach acid comes up into the esophagus. Gastric acid can reach the back of the mouth at night damaging the back teeth. Intrinsic erosive wear occurs from excessive vomiting due to pregnancy, alcoholism, or bulimia.
* Abrasive Wear- Abrasive wear is the result of physical pressure on your teeth. One common cause is bruxism, which is the unconscious grinding or clenching of your teeth. Bruxism often occurs at night. If your teeth are misaligned, uneven biting force when chewing will accelerate the wear of some teeth, causing these to be shorter.
Treatment for Short Teeth
If you are unhappy with your smile because of short or small teeth, there are various treatments available:
* Treating the Root Cause of Short Teeth- It is beneficial to address the root cause of your small or short teeth in addition to simply cosmetically improving your smile. If you have genetic microdontia, it might be related to a family health condition. In this case, you might need involve a physician in addition to working with your dentist to treat your oral health. If your short teeth are from wear and tear, treating this issue can prevent further damage to any restorations and will preserve your improved smile longer. Treatments might include orthodontics, wearing a night guard, or changes in your diet.
* Porcelain Veneers- Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for a natural-looking and long-lasting restoration. Veneers are thin ceramic shells covering the front of your teeth, adding length and shape.
* Composite Bonding- Dental bonding is an easy option that will add length and improve how your teeth look. Bonding conserves tooth structure taking less time and is quite durable.
* Dental Crown- If you have just one short tooth, a dental crown may be the ideal solution. This is a ceramic cap that completely covers your natural tooth. This both protects the tooth as well as improving its appearance.