I have two peg laterals next to my front teeth. Because of them, I absolutely hate my smile. I asked my dentist about making them look normal but he said they’re healthy so I shouldn’t mess with them and to leave well enough alone. While I understand that, I really would like to find a solution that won’t change their health, but improve their appearance. Is that possible?
Mary
Dear Mary,
Your dentist’s response made me shake my head. That’s a little like you asking if you could paint the house because you don’t like the color and him saying, “Why? It’s still standing up just fine.” These are two completely separate issues.
For those who do not know what peg laterals are, they are a developmental malformation that results in the teeth lateral to the upper incisors being small and sometimes pointed. It is a congenital issue and not something the patient did.
Can Peg Laterals Be Made to Look Better?
The short answer is yes, you can improve their appearance. However, I would not have your dentist do it. A good solution for you would be to have dental bonding done. However, I do not think that your dentist is qualified to do this repair. He would have mentioned dental bonding if he did it and he has more of an engineering mentality. You need a dentist with an artistic mindset and ability.
Dental bonding is done by filling in the area with a composite bonding material. It has to be done freehand and you will want it to blend seamlessly with your front teeth. That will require a highly skilled cosmetic dentist. I would check their smile gallery to see what type of results they get with bonding.
You will care for them the same way you do with your normal teeth. The bonding can last for several years, but will eventually need to be replaced.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.