People may not realize it but teeth come in different shapes. Much of the shape of teeth depends on genetics. Different groups have uniquely shaped teeth that reach way back into ethnic ancestry. Asian people, particularly those with Mongolian ancestry, tend to have peg-shaped teeth.
You can blame genetics for teeth that are shaped like pegs. However, this isn’t always the case. Peg-shaped teeth, or as some call them “Dracula teeth,” can also be caused by tooth grinding or other similar issues. Regardless of their origin, peg-shaped teeth can present several challenges to patients who want to improve their smile and overall oral health.
Effective Treatment Options for Peg-Shaped Teeth
Those who want to change the look of their peg-shaped teeth have several treatment options. Enamel shaping is a non-invasive procedure that uses a special tool to smooth the surface of your tooth.
Cosmetic dentistry involves reshaping the entire tooth so that it looks more like an oval shape than a peg shape. This procedure can take anywhere from one day to several weeks depending on the extent of the work. It could be that crowns need replacing with veneers or bonding material and that will take more time.
Treatment for peg-shaped teeth can also include orthodontic treatment. Some patients that have spacing issues between adjacent teeth may need to get braces or retainers as cosmetic treatments alone can’t solve these types of problems.
Enamel Shaping
Enamel shaping is a quick and easy procedure in which the dentist files down the sharp edges of the teeth, making them more functional and attractive. This is done primarily to make them more comfortable for biting and chewing, as well as less likely to cause injury when you’re eating.
Enamel shaping should be done as soon as possible after the teeth have erupted, but it does not need to be performed at each visit because enamel will continue to grow throughout childhood until around age 18. It’s important that you don’t wait too long before getting this treatment–if left untreated, sharp edges can cause pain or even permanent damage!
This is a treatment that adults can pursue if they’ve been dealing with painful edges or difficulty chewing.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is a solid and popular option for patients with peg-shaped teeth who desire a better appearance of their smile. Several procedures can be used to straighten peg-shaped teeth and your dentist may decide to use a combination of procedures to get the best results.
Drastic changes can happen with cosmetic dentistry, including changing both the color and shape of your teeth. For example, porcelain veneers are custom-made shells that are bonded onto the front surface of each tooth so they look natural but make an improvement in appearance.
Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is a good option for peg-shaped teeth. It can be used to correct the alignment and spacing of the teeth. It is sometimes used with other treatments to correct the shape.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a quick, simple, and effective way to improve how your teeth look. The process involves applying a resin-based composite material to the surface of your tooth that hardens into place like enamel.
Dental bonding includes a dentist using special tools like lasers for reshaping crooked teeth or filling gaps between them. A final layer of enamel coating is applied that makes the teeth look more natural than dental veneers.
This can be done using either a traditional dental office or by visiting an in-home dentist who has been specially trained in this treatment option.
Dental bonding is an excellent option for people with peg-shaped teeth because it doesn’t require any drilling or filing down of your existing enamel, which can cause tooth sensitivity. In fact, most dentists will tell you that tooth bonding actually strengthens your existing teeth by creating more surface area on top where new tissue can grow naturally over time.
Considerations are to be made when you have peg-shaped teeth.
The first thing to consider when looking at alternatives for peg-shaped teeth is the severity of your condition. You also need to consider how much you want to correct them and how much will you benefit from the time and cost put into treatment.
Considerations should be divided into two categories to gauge your needs. The first category relates to tooth function and comfort. Those whose peg-shaped teeth are causing them pain while chewing should get them fixed.
Those who are having problems chewing should make fixing their teeth a priority, even though it may be expensive. After all, the first function of a mouth is to eat.
The second category is appearance. Sure, you want your smile to look better but the proper question to ask is what would you gain by it? Would you be more confident or would it be a career boost? Would your social life improve? Quality of life is important and if fixing your teeth meant you had more confidence to get a job promotion or get back into a social scene, it may well be worth the cost even if your mouth functions fine as it is.
If your teeth have only been slightly misshapen, then there are some less invasive ways for you to improve their appearance without having any kind of surgery done.
One option would be wearing braces on your upper jaw only. This will allow teeth to move back into their proper position over time. Another option might involve placing spacers between each tooth.
The positive about modern dentistry is it leaves you with many options for those who want to change the appearance of their smile. Contact us about how to fix your peg-shaped teeth and have the best smile ever!
