Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Little Teeth

By Web Communications
Baylor College of Dentistry
The Texas A&M Health Science Center
Monday, April 09, 2007
STORY:  LITTLE TEETH
SCRIPT #719  SHOOT:  3/20/07
AIRDATE:  Monday, April 9, 2007
DHC Master #16   Timecode: 46:00

Genetics play a key role in a person’s overall health. But did you know that genetics also can determine how your teeth develop. Dr. Linda Niessen examines a common problem that often runs in families: little teeth—in today’s segment of Dental Health Check.

You’d never know that Colette Nies is embarrassed about the gaps between her teeth. She doesn’t let her discomfort keep her from smiling.
 
“I was made fun of my whole life. It’s not just cosmetic. There’s actual health reasons too,” said Colette.   Colette has permanent teeth that look almost like baby teeth. You can inherit the size and shape of your teeth. Colette’s father also has small teeth, a condition called “microdontia.”  

Dr. Susan Hollar noted, “Small teeth are relative to the rest of the patient’s face. So a person could get the skeletal structure of one parent and the tooth size of another.” So now that Colette has graduated from college and is working full time, she plans to undergo a complete smile make-over. Today was a sneak preview.

Dr. Hollar continued, “It gives the patient an up close and intimate feel for what larger teeth will do for their face and how it will feel in their mouth. And most patients have a fear of their teeth being made longer or bigger. So it helps to alleviate that fear and help them understand.” The before and after photos are dramatic.

"I just have this plethora of space in my mouth,” said Colette. Patients with small teeth can chose composite bonding or porcelain veneers. Braces are not usually necessary. If teeth are too small, they may not fit together or chew properly, which can cause more wear and tear. So cosmetic dentistry can restore both appearance and function. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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