Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Peg lateral teeth can look out of place next to much larger central incisors. This can leave you feeling self-conscious when you smile. Fortunately, modern dentistry can treat peg laterals in various ways to give you the smile that you deserve. If your peg lateral teeth are preventing you from smiling with confidence, one of the following dental approaches can help.

1. Composite or Porcelain Veneers

If there is enough space around your peg laterals, then you can proceed straight to veneers. Composite veneers are cheaper and faster than porcelain veneers, and your general dentist should be able to place them in one dental visit. However, you'll need to replace your composite veneers every few years or so since composite bonding eventually chips and stains.

If longevity is your priority, then porcelain veneers are the best approach for your peg laterals. Porcelain is strong and looks more like enamel than composite bonding does.

2. Orthodontic Treatment Followed by Veneers

When there isn't enough space around peg laterals to proceed with veneers, you can undergo orthodontic treatment first to make space for them. Orthodontic treatment will create enough room on either side of your peg laterals to accommodate veneers. The fastest way to make space for your veneers is with traditional braces, which utilize brackets to move teeth. Once you have enough space around your peg laterals, then your dentist can proceed with the veneer placement.

3. Extraction Followed By Dental Implant Placement

The closest thing to a natural tooth is a dental implant because these have roots and crowns just as natural teeth do. If your peg laterals are especially small, then the best option might be to extract and replace them with dental implants. Your dentist will use your other teeth as a guide when creating your dental implant to ensure they get the right size and shape.

As long as your extractions involve only minor surgery, you can replace your peg laterals with immediate dental implants. In this case, you'll be able to use your new lateral teeth within three to six months once healing has taken place.

If you are ready to do something about your peg lateral teeth, then speak to your dentist. Some general dentists can carry out all of the aforementioned treatments at their dental clinic. But your dentist might refer you to a specialist if they cannot perform one or more of these techniques. Contact a dental office for more information.