Small Teeth
By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, September 30, 2002
STORY: LITTLE TEETH
SCRIPT #481 SHOOT: 9/25/02
AIRDATE: Monday, Sept. 30, 2002
DHC Master #16 Timecode:Cosmetic dentistry can fix small teeth
“I was made fun of my whole life," she says. "It’s not just cosmetic. There’s actual health reasons too.” Colette has permanent teeth that look almost like baby teeth. You can inherit the size and shape of your teeth. Colette’s father also has small teeth, a condition called “microdontia.” “Small teeth are relative to the rest of the patient’s face," says dentist Dr. Susan Hollar. "So a person could get the skeletal structure of one parent and the tooth size of another.” So now that Colette has graduated from college and is working full time, she plans to undergo a complete smile make-over. She recently got a sneak preview. “It gives the patient an up close and intimate feel for what larger teeth will do for their face and how it will feel in their mouth," Dr Hollar says. "And most patients have a fear of their teeth being made longer or bigger. So it helps to alleviate that fear and help them understand.” The before and after photos are dramatic. "I just have this plethora of space in my mouth,” Nies says. Patients with small teeth can chose composite bonding or porcelain veneers. Braces are not usually necessary. If teeth are too small, they may not fit together or chew properly, which can cause more wear and tear. So cosmetic dentistry can restore both appearance and function. 
You’d never know that Colette Nies is embarrassed about the gaps between her teeth. She doesn’t let her discomfort keep her from smiling.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
