My two lateral incisors are sticking out kind of far. What form of treatment do you think will be best to fix this?
- Brandon in Pennsylvania
Brandon,
You have several different options, and the one you pick will depend on how much you want to spend, how quickly you want results, and how far they’re actually sticking out.
The cleanest way to get you a better smile would be braces to actually move the lateral incisors back to their normal position. Many adults don’t like to wear braces, but the Invisalign invisible braces are very comfortable and no one can tell you’re wearing braces.
Or, the teeth can be fixed restoratively. If they’re sticking out just a millimeter or two, then you could have them shaved back and have porcelain veneers placed on them, which would just cover the fronts of those teeth. If they’re sticking out much more than that, then you would need porcelain crowns, which cover the entire tooth. The veneers or crowns could be matched to your existing teeth to perfectly blend in.
Or, you could have a full set of eight or ten porcelain veneers.
But be careful. Don’t go to your family dentist for this kind of work. It requires a lot of artistry to do this well, and you have to be careful. I’d suggest finding a cosmetic dentist on the mynewsmile.com website where they screen dentists based on training in cosmetic dentistry and artistic ability.
Dr. Whitmore is their recommended cosmetic dentist in Plano, and they have several that they recommend in Pennsylvania.