Do large front teeth require orthodontics?
When most people think of "large front teeth," they are probably referring to the two teeth in the upper middle.
Since these teeth are the most prominent when the mouth is opened, it is easy to be concerned about the large front teeth.
For those who suffer from large front teeth,We will discuss whether orthodontics is necessary and how to reduce the size of large front teeth.
Do I need braces if I have large front teeth?
Whether orthodontics is needed to improve large anterior teeth depends on the case.
There are three patterns of cases with large anterior teeth
- Front teeth appear larger because of the alignment of the teeth
- Large front teeth themselves or small other teeth
- Large front teeth due to both tooth alignment and tooth size
Which of these three you fall into is the key to whether or not you need orthodontics to reduce the size of your front teeth.
Front teeth appear larger because of the alignment of the teeth
This is a pattern in which the front teeth appear larger in perspective due to protruding teeth (maxillary protrusion) or uneven teeth that hide neighboring teeth.
The position of the teeth just makes the front teeth appear larger sensuously,The front teeth themselves are not large.
In this case, the reason for the large appearance of the front teeth is due to the misalignment of the teeth,Orthodontic treatment can also improve the size of the front teeth.
Large front teeth themselves or small other teeth
Orthodontics aligns the teeth and does not change the size or shape of the teeth. Therefore,If the cause of the large anterior teeth is the size of the teeth, orthodontics is not necessary.
The average size of the anterior teeth is approximately as follows
- Width length → approx. 8.6mm for men, approx. 8.5mm for women
- Vertical length → approx. 10-11mm
If the anterior teeth are larger than this size, the teeth themselves are larger.
Also,Even if the front teeth are of average size, if the other teeth are small, the front teeth may be large and prominent.
To reduce the size of the front teeth, the teeth are either shaved or covered with a crown to balance the size of the teeth with the other teeth.
Large front teeth due to both tooth alignment and tooth size
in this caseIn conjunction with orthodontic treatment, teeth will need to be shaved or covered in order to resize the front teeth.
If the ultimate goal of orthodontic treatment is to reduce the size of the front teeth, make sure to inform the orthodontist of this during the consultation phase.
If the orthodontic plan does not include improvement in the size of the front teeth, it can cause the teeth to become too small when the front teeth are reduced in size at the end of the orthodontic treatment, or cause the bite and teeth to become misaligned.
How to reduce the size of large front teeth
There are three ways to improve large anterior teeth
- Correction.
- Covering (ceramic orthodontics)
- shave one's anterior teeth
Correction.
If the front teeth appear large because of the alignment of the teeth, orthodontics can reduce the size of the front teeth.
Orthodontic treatment can be broadly divided into two types of appliances: wire braces and mouthpiece braces.
wire orthodontia
A square device called a bracket and a wire are worn on the front or back of the teeth to move the teeth.
The wire is shape-memory, and the teeth move with the force of the wire trying to return to its original shape.
This device is suited for cases with many uneven teeth and skeletal problems that require extraction or jawbone cutting procedures.
There is a great deal of discomfort in eating and pronunciation until you get used to it, though,It can be used for almost everything from mild to severely protruding teeth and dentition malpositions to improving the size of the front teeth.
cost
- Partial orthodontic treatment (front teeth only) → approx. 80,000-550,000 yen
- Total orthodontic treatment→approx. 600,000-1,500,000 yen
The difference in cost is due to the condition of the teeth before treatment, the materials used for brackets and wires, the position of the device, and the extent of treatment.
The three most common variations in materials and types of brackets and wires are as follows
- Metal brackets and wires are worn on the front of the teeth.
→ Overwhelmingly noticeable when the mouth is opened. - White brackets and wires are placed on the front of the teeth
→The color of the device blends in with the teeth, so it is less noticeable than metallic devices. - Wires are worn behind the teeth.
→The device does not attach to the front of the teeth at all, so it is virtually invisible when the mouth is opened.
Costs tend to increase in the order of 1 to 3,The less visible the device is during treatment, the more it costs.
Length of treatment
- Partial orthodontic treatment (front teeth only) → about 3-7 months
- Total orthodontic treatment → approx. 1-3 years
Treatment duration,The greater the extent and amount of tooth movement, the longer it tends to be.
mouthpiece orthodontics
The mouthpiece, which is transparent and shaped to fit snugly against the teeth, is changed periodically to move the teeth.
The mouthpiece is made in a way that aligns the teeth just slightly better than the current alignment. When worn for longer than the prescribed time, the teeth move to fit the mouthpiece, resulting in better alignment.
What are the features of mouthpiece orthodontics?The mouthpiece can be removed by yourself and is very inconspicuous.
There is some discomfort while wearing the mouthpiece until you get used to it, but you can remove the device when eating and brushing your teeth, so you can eat and brush your teeth almost the same way you did before orthodontic treatment.
In addition, because they are made of highly transparent material, they are barely noticeable when talking to others, making it difficult for people to notice that you are wearing braces.
cost
- Partial orthodontic treatment (front teeth only) → approx. 100,000-700,000 yen
- Total orthodontic treatment→approx. 800,000-1,000,000 yen
There are several manufacturers of mouthpiece orthodontics,Costs vary depending on the manufacturer, the dentist handling the product, the case, and the scope of treatment.
Length of treatment
- Partial orthodontic treatment (front teeth only) → about 5 months to 1.5 years
- Total orthodontic treatment → approx. 1-3 years
Mouthpiece orthodontic treatment requires self-monitoring of the mouthpiece, including the time of use of the mouthpiece as directed by the orthodontist.
If the patient forgets to wear the mouthpiece or wears it for insufficient time, the teeth will not move and the treatment period will be prolonged.
Covering (ceramic orthodontics)
The teeth are shaved down a full turn and a crown is placed on top to improve the size of the front teeth.This is effective in cases with large anterior teeth due to the size of the teeth themselves.
It is also called "ceramic orthodontics" because it can correct a certain amount of tooth rattling and clean up the alignment of the teeth at the stage of covering.
Because the head of the tooth is replaced with an artificial tooth, the greatest advantage is that you can choose not only the size of the tooth but also its color and shape.
However, because of the large amount of tooth grinding, it may be necessary to remove the nerve of the tooth in some cases,There is a risk of shortened tooth life.
In addition, deterioration, discoloration, and breakage of the coverings, as well as nonconformity due to gingival recession, may occur.
cost
40,000-100,000 yen or more per bottle
The cost depends on the material of the covering. The following three types of coverings are typical.
- hybrid
→Mixture of ceramic and plastic. Since plastic is included, there is a possibility of discoloration. - zirconia
→Zirconia is an artificial diamond. It is strong, but it is difficult to reproduce the transparency of natural teeth, and there is little variation in color. - all-ceramic
→Highly esthetic and available in a wide range of colors. This material is highly esthetic and close to natural teeth. Zirconia may be used as a base to increase strength.
The cost increases in order from 1 to 3, and esthetics and strength improve.
Length of treatment
Approx. 1-3 months
Since only the front teeth are shaved and covered, the process takes less time than orthodontics.
shave one's anterior teeth
This is a procedure in which the teeth are shaved to the extent that it does not affect the health of the patient and is completed without a covering. It is sometimes done to create space for teeth to be aligned when orthodontic treatment is used.
This is because some dentists believe it is not a good idea to cut down healthy teeth when there is no name for it, such as "for orthodontic treatment."It is unlikely that a stand-alone treatment will be recommended.
cost
Because procedures that grind down healthy teeth are not common,The cost varies depending on the dentist performing the procedure.
If done in conjunction with orthodontics, it may be included in the cost of orthodontics.
Length of treatment
It is completed on the same day, as the teeth are simply shaved.
If you want to reduce the size of your front teeth with orthodontics, consult your dentist first.
To reduce the size of the anterior teeth, it is necessary to correctly identify the cause of the large anterior teeth.
If you want to know if the size of your front teeth can be improved with orthodontics, we recommend that you first visit a dental office for a consultation.
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365dentist General Supervisor Dentist/Yukiko Katsuya
Graduated from Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, ~2018 Kyushu Medical Center, 2018-present Working at a dental clinic in Tokyo
Supervisor: Dentist/Naomi
After completing clinical training, worked in cosmetic dentistry in Tokyo. Dentist / Dental Writer