Having large front teeth is a common cosmetic dental issue that many people deal with. If you feel self-conscious about the size or shape of your front teeth, you may be wondering if shaving them down is an option that can improve your smile.
In this post, we’ll explore whether tooth shaving can fix oversized front teeth, alternative options like veneers or braces, and what you should consider before undergoing any dental procedure.
What Causes Someone to Have Noticeably Large Front Teeth?
There are a few reasons why some people develop large or oversized front teeth:
- Genetics – Some individuals simply inherit larger teeth, especially front incisors and canines. This trait tends to run in families.
- Small jaw size – If your jaw or tooth arches are on the smaller side, this can make the teeth appear bigger in proportion to the mouth and face. A small jaw provides less room for teeth to fit properly.
- Crowding – Sometimes teeth are actually normal-sized, but crowding due to excess teeth or a small jaw makes them seem bigger. The appearance of your smile depends on the spacing and alignment of the teeth. When crowded, teeth can flare out and look oversized.
So, in many cases, big front teeth have to do with tooth-to-jaw disproportion rather than the actual size of the teeth themselves. Figuring out the specific cause in your case is an important first step.
Can You Make Your Teeth Smaller Through Shaving?
The simple answer is yes – shaving down natural teeth enamel, also called enamel reduction or tooth contouring, is possible. Dentists have specialized dental tools that function similarly to nail files to gently grind down or reshape the surface of teeth.
However, there are definite limitations as to how much enamel can safely be removed.
After the outer protective enamel layer is worn down, you start getting closer to the sensitive dentin and tooth pulp underneath. Removing too much enamel increases the risk of nerve damage, infection, temperature sensitivity, and accelerated decay. And so most dentists recommend only shaving down the surface by 0.3mm to 0.6mm at a time.
The amount of enamel that can be reduced also depends on how much excess enamel is present to begin with. This is because teeth naturally vary in thickness, with some people having thinner enamel than others.
And so if you already have thin enamel, shaving down too much can get into layers that negatively impact the tooth’s longevity and health. Trying to shave teeth down too small for the jaw can also make them appear unnaturally tiny.
While mild enamel reduction can alter tooth size and shape, there is a limit to how much change is possible or safe with this method. As a result, extreme cases of oversized front teeth often require an alternative cosmetic solution.
What Are the Benefits of Shaving Down Teeth?
When done right on suitable candidates, tooth shaving – as a solution to the question “ how to fix big front teeth” – offers the following benefits:
- Minimally invasive – Unlike dental crowns or veneers, enamel shaping alters the existing natural tooth structure rather than covering it up. This conservative approach maximizes the preservation of healthy tooth tissue.
- Preserves natural appearance – Subtle recontouring maintains a natural-looking, enamel-like surface as opposed to artificial materials.
- No anesthesia needed – It is typically a pain-free procedure that does not require numbing shots.
- Quick recovery – Little to no downtime is needed afterward.
- Affordable cost – Tooth reshaping alone costs significantly less than veneers or other restorative treatments.
- Reversible – Shaving down reshapes what’s already there, but if you later wish to undo it, crowns or veneers can increase tooth size.
Good Candidates for Making Large Front Teeth Attractive Through Tooth Shaving
Ideally, tooth shaving works best for minor cosmetic changes, not major tooth size reductions.
The best candidates include those with:
- Slightly uneven teeth – Reshaping can even out subtle unevenness or asymmetry. This can reduce your self-consciousness and struggle with trying to figure out how to smile with big teeth.
- Mildly crowded, overlapping, or gapped teeth – Removing overlapping edges or tiny bumps can create more space.
- Teeth that appear barely too large for the face or mouth – Conservative enamel reduction may do the trick.
- Excess enamel present – Enough thickness is needed so removal reaches only the outer layers.
- Otherwise healthy tooth structure and gums – No underlying disease or decay that requires major treatment.
The Process of Big Front Teeth Reshaping and What to Expect
If deemed an appropriate method after an in-office exam and dental X-rays, the tooth contouring process involves just a few steps:
- Local numbing – This mild, reversible numbing helps avoid temperature sensitivity during enamel removal.
- Enamel reduction – Your dentist uses a dental drill, file, or sanding band to gently and precisely recontour the teeth. A smooth finish is ensured.
- Shape evaluation – You’ll get the chance to view your new smile before proceeding so further adjustments can be made until desired aesthetic goals are met.
- Polishing – Final polishing smooths out any remaining roughness for a glossy finish.
From start to finish, a single tooth shaving session may take 30-60 minutes. For those with thinner enamel, sometimes the process needs to be split into multiple shorter visits to allow time for enamel remineralization in between. The dentist will advise you on what timeframe will be ideal for maintaining dental health.
When done carefully by a skilled dentist, patients generally experience no pain during or after the tooth contouring procedure itself. The only sensation is vibration from the dental tools.
For a day or two afterward, some may report a minor achy feeling similar to the sensitivity from a routine cleaning. Any discomfort is usually temporary and resolves quickly as the area settles and nerves re-acclimate.
Big Front Teeth Reshaping: The Limitations of Tooth Shaving for Oversized Teeth
While tooth reshaping benefits certain cases, there are definite downsides to consider:
- Highly technique-sensitive – Outcomes are heavily dependent on the dentist’s skill and precision. An overzealous removal risks permanent damage.
- Not suitable for major size/shape changes – Only mild improvements are possible before jeopardizing tooth structure. If you are looking for a full smile makeover, it may not be enough.
- Permanent and irreversible – Enamel does not grow back once removed. What is shaved off cannot be undone.
- Eventual restoration is often still needed – Removing the outer enamel layer accelerates aging and decay processes, later necessitating a crown, veneer or other covering.
- Repeat procedures likely – As more enamel layers get removed over time, recontouring needs to be performed recurrently to maintain appearance.
- Results may relapse if the underlying cause persists – Any crowding, spacing or jaw size issues must first be fully corrected, or improved alignment will relapse after reshaping.
- Doesn’t improve function – Altering appearance only masks bite or health problems. Aligners, orthodontics, or restorations better improve function.
As you can see, tooth shaving works best for mild cases requiring subtle changes. As a result, further cosmetic intervention is often needed for severely oversized teeth, so more dramatic solutions may work out as the better option in the long run.
How to Fix Big Front Teeth: Alternatives
For significant size differences between front teeth and facial proportions, tooth reshaping alone may not be the ultimate answer to the question of how to fix big teeth. It may not sufficiently improve smile aesthetics or self-confidence.
More transformative options may be needed. These may include:
Dental Veneers
Veneers involve placing thin, custom-made porcelain covers over front teeth to reshape them. This masks any flaws with a picture-perfect smile. Dramatic improvements are possible with this option since new fronts can be created rather than merely altering natural teeth.
However, healthy tooth structure still gets removed to accommodate veneer thickness.
Crowns
Like veneers, dental crowns are tooth-colored caps that surround an entire tooth for full customization. They require more natural tooth reduction under the gum line compared to veneers. But they rebuild and reinforce the tooth in the process.
Orthodontic Treatment
Traditional braces and clear aligners straighten crooked, crowded, or widely-spaced teeth over time. This can create optical illusions making teeth appear less prominent. By expanding narrow jaw arches, more room is created for proper tooth alignment.
Tooth Extraction and Replacement
In the most severe cases with extreme lack of space, extracting protruding front teeth followed by tooth replacement with a dental bridge, implant, dentures, or partials can enable correct sizing – relative to the mouth.
Generally, the best solution is unique to every patient’s specific dental considerations. A dentist is best placed to advise you on which option makes the most sense after a thorough oral examination.
Should You Consider Cosmetic Dentistry to “Fix” Your Smile?
If having noticeably large front teeth significantly bothers you, exploring ways to improve your smile can certainly help boost confidence. But take time to carefully think through what you hope to achieve before jumping to invasive procedures.
Remember that natural teeth come in a wide range of healthy sizes and variations. And beauty standards spotlighting picture-perfect celebrity smiles promote unrealistic ideals. So try not to let social pressures push you towards unnecessary or excessive dental work.
While discolored, fractured, overlapped, or highly crooked teeth may warrant correction to prevent worsening problems down the road, minor imperfections often just require acceptance. Invest instead in oral hygiene practices that safeguard the natural teeth you have. A bright, lively smile often outshines superficial flaws.
That said if you still decide certain issues negatively impact your self-image or quality of life enough to pursue cosmetic intervention, go in fully informed. Find an ethical dentist who takes the time to explain your options, limitations, and risks before rendering appropriate treatment. Make sure ultimate decisions are driven by your own smile goals rather than just what the dental office is selling.
Conclusion – Thoughtfully Consider Your Choices
While shaving teeth down represents a conservative approach to subtly improving smile aesthetics, only mild improvements may be possible before jeopardizing dental health and longevity.
Be realistic about outcomes and carefully weigh their benefits versus permanent tradeoffs.
For those with severely oversized front teeth, alternative solutions like veneers, orthodontics, or tooth extraction and replacement often work better than shaving. And so before opting for it, ensure that you seek multiple professional opinions.
Take time to carefully research and reflect on what matters most for your smile’s form and function. Ultimately, choose an option that is aligned with your long-term oral health, lifestyle needs, and cosmetic goals.
