I have peg laterals on my upper on either side of my two front incisors. I’ve had them since childhood and I really dislike how they appear. I’ve heard that I may be able to have them “fixed” using bonding–is this true? I’d love to smile without reservation at last.
Many thanks,
Moira
Dear Moira,
This is a great question and one that is frequently asked by others as well.
What Are Peg Laterals?
For those who may not be aware of what you are referring to, let me give a quick rundown. Peg laterals are when the teeth lateral to the upper incisors are malformed. Often they are small and occasionally even pointed. Considered a form of microdontia, peg laterals are congenital and can be hereditary. They are rarely seen in lower teeth.
Will dental bonding help?
The short answer is yes. In fact, dental bonding is often one of the best ways to treat peg laterals and gain an esthetically pleasing smile. You also have the option of porcelain veneers as a solution. Veneers last longer, but are more expensive so which you pick will depend on your budget.
During the bonding process, your natural peg lateral teeth are left in place, and a tooth-colored material is bonded to the surface to bring the size and shape of the teeth in alignment with the rest of the natural incisors. They will be expertly shade-matched, shaped, adjusted, smoothed and polished to match your other teeth and your occlusion, resulting in a pleasing smile.
These should last you several years. As I mentioned earlier, porcelain veneers will last longer and will be more stain resistant, so you will want to look at both options to decide which is best for you.
Getting Beautiful Dental Bonding
The real trick to this is who you have do the procedure, regardless of whether you choose bonding or veneers. Cosmetic dentistry is not taught in dental school so for a dentist to do it well, they need to have post-doctoral training. The top cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. In your position, I would look for that type of dentist. This way, you will be pretty much guaranteed a gorgeous result.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.