My front two teeth overlap

Okay, so my two front teeth are crooked and overlap each other, and I’m 18 years old. I don’t want braces, because I was recently at the dentist and he told me I’d have to have them on for 3 years. I was thinking of doing Invisalign, but then my friend told me about veneers, but i don’t know if I qualify for veneers. I took some pictures of me teeth so you can see and let me know please if veneers can fix my teeth? Thank you so much.
- Kristen in Florida

Kristen,
From the looks of your photo, either Invisalign or porcelain veneers would work. Invisalign would take about a year. Porcelain veneers would take two appointments.

If you did veneers on the front two teeth, that would take care of the overlapping. But in your photo it looks like the front six teeth really don’t line up well. Your canines are out in front some, and your incisors are set back some. You were a little short of space for all six of those teeth to fit, so they’re kind of scrunched together. Six porcelain veneers would make them all look straight, and I think you’d be happy with the results.

Invisalign would make them actually be straight, so that’s an advantage over the porcelain veneers. It looks like you are old enough for Invisalign. It doesn’t work well for younger teenagers, but once your teeth are fully erupted, which it looks like yours are, it does work. My guess, which is only based on what I can see in the photo, so don’t take it as gospel, is that your Invisalign treatment would take about a year. You’d need a full exam and analysis to determine how long it would take for sure.

Good luck. I’d encourage you to get it done, because having straight teeth helps us feel like we’re just like everyone else, and it improves our self-esteem.

Other links:
Seattle cosmetic dentist

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Looks like Acid Reflux

I am having some issues with my teeth. About 10 years ago, during my college days, I had a bad habit of drinking soda. I consumed a lot of soda, on a regular basis.

After college, when I started my first prof job in Jan 2002, I again began to see the dentist regularly (every 6 months) for cleanings and check-ups. I diligently brush and floss on a regular basis.

However, the back of my teeth (inner side near the tongue) is wearing away. I believe I permanently damaged the enamel on the inner surface of my front upper and lower teeth, and over time my teeth have become thinner. I recently noticed that my front upper teeth have become so thin, that they’re wearing away (a small chip, and degrading to a different shape).

Is there any type of procedure/fix that I could get done to correct this? What do you recommend? Thanks.
- Paul from Florida

Paul,
You say you had the soda-drinking habit ten years ago. Can I assume that you don’t have this habit any more? If so, it doesn’t sound like your old soda habit is what is hurting your teeth.

When the insides of the teeth, particularly the upper front teeth, dissolve away, that is one of the signs of acid reflux or bulimia. Tooth decay is different - it usually starts with one spot where it penetrates the tooth and then it creates a soft spot there. If the teeth are being washed in some acid on a regular basis, that will cause a general thinning of the teeth at the surface where the acid touches. This will also happen if you suck on lemons, for example. Then the teeth, which continue to get thinner, will start to chip away.

Now, soda is acidic and can cause this same sort of problem if the soda is held in your mouth before swallowing. It is possible that the soda dissolved away all or almost all of the enamel and that now the softer dentin is exposed.

The treatment is to get the vulnerable surfaces of the teeth covered with porcelain. This restores the missing tooth structure and strengthens the teeth against further attacks. Full porcelain crowns work very well for this. It’s also important to resolve whatever the issue is that caused the teeth to weaken so that the treatment will not be undermined by continued acid attacks.

Links for further information:
Bulimia and teeth
Seattle cosmetic dentist

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