Small teeth: causes and how to improve their size and shape

In many cases, yes. Because small teeth leave space around them, size can be added with bonding or with no-prep or minimal-prep veneers. Sometimes a very small enamel adjustment is needed to give accurate margins and a secure fit. Smile design and a mock-up show what your case needs before anything is done.

They are upper lateral incisors that are smaller than usual and pointed, often for inherited reasons. They are usually treated by adding size with bonding, a veneer or a crown depending on the case, and sometimes orthodontics is needed first to position them and share the spaces. The approach depends on the tooth size, position and surrounding gaps.

Bonding is quicker, usually lower in cost and adjustable, but needs maintenance and can stain or chip. Veneers hold their colour better and resist staining, and suit people changing several teeth at once. For younger patients, or one or two teeth, bonding can be a good start. The pros and cons are set out in your written plan.

Gum may be covering part of the tooth, making it look short even though its real size is normal. In that case laser gum contouring is usually the better solution and may be enough on its own. The lip covering the teeth, or wear, can also be the reason. The right diagnosis avoids enlarging teeth that do not need it.

It is usually better to wait until teeth and gums have finished developing before permanent veneers, because the gum line changes during the teenage years. Bonding can be a good conservative, interim option in the meantime. Timing is decided after examination and may be coordinated with orthodontics if that is needed too.

The cost depends on how many teeth are involved and the method: bonding, veneers, gum contouring or a combination. No price is given before examination; after the assessment at Celebrity Smile Center you receive an itemised written plan with alternatives. For reference only, veneers at Creative Arts in Dubai start from AED 1,250 per tooth.

Not always. If the spaces are distributed so that each tooth can be enlarged in balance, orthodontics may not be needed. If the spaces are uneven or a tooth is out of position, limited orthodontics before veneers can give a more natural result. Smile design and a mock-up make this clear.

Choose a dentist who can tell true small teeth from gum coverage and prefers conservative solutions. Dr. Khalid Saeed, "the celebrity smile maker", uses minimal-prep or no-prep veneers where suitable, mock-ups and the Waterlase laser at Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok, and also practises at Creative Arts in Dubai. Results vary from person to person.