Straight Teeth in Less Time
Two Ways To Treat Peg Lateral Teeth
Lois Murray
It's pretty common for there to be hiccups in the tooth development process, and one kind of issue many people run into are peg laterals. Typically, because of genetic reasons, the two adult lateral incisors fail to fully develop and descend into the mouth, causing a person to be stuck with their deciduous (baby) incisors. However, there's no reason you have to live with this problem for the rest of your life if you're suffering from this issue. Here are two ways peg lateral teeth can be fixed.
Braces Plus Crowns
Your first thought may be to have the teeth removed and replaced with implants. While that is an option, it's isn't always necessary. If your baby incisors are relatively healthy, it may be simpler and easier to simply cover them with crowns, which are false teeth that are fitted and cemented directly on top of your existing teeth.
Crowns will preserve your original teeth, while also providing strength and making them blend in with your other teeth. You also avoid many of the risks associated with extraction and implant surgery.
However, if the spaces where your peg teeth are located aren't wide enough, you will need to wear braces for a period of time to increase the area enough for the crowns to fit. This means it may take a few months or even a year or more before your teeth are fully fixed. As a bonus, though, the braces can fix crooked teeth and other dental irregularities you may have at the same time.
Braces Plus Implants
As mentioned previously, you can have the peg incisors removed and replaced with dental implants. This is the best option if your incisors are too damaged or diseased to save. The biggest advantage to going with this option is the fact that implants are designed to function just like regular teeth. They're generally longer lasting than crowns alone, and they can prevent the jaw bone deterioration that may occur because of the peg teeth's size and underdevelopment.
Just like with the crowns, you may have to wear braces for a while to make the space big enough for your new implants. Because implants are designed to be a permanent fixture in the mouth, you won't be able to have the teeth installed until after the braces are removed. The dentist would typically wait another few months for the implant post to integrate into the jaw bone before placing the crown. However, there are same-day implants available, so it may be possible to have your missing teeth replaced at the same time your braces are removed.
For more information about treating peg incisors or getting braces, contact an orthodontist, such as Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.