5 Ways to make big front teeth smaller: cosmetic solutions to make you smile

If you have grown up with, or your child is currently experiencing, prominent front teeth, you will be all too aware of how they can significantly impact confidence and self-esteem. While some people embrace their larger front teeth as a beautiful distinctive feature, others find them overwhelming and seek professional cosmetic dental solutions to achieve better facial harmony.

The good news is that here at Duxton Dental in Christchurch, our highly skilled and experienced team offers modern cosmetic dentistry and multiple effective approaches to help you achieve the balanced, proportionate smile you've always wanted. At our dental clinic, we understand that every smile is unique, and we're committed to helping our patients find the perfect solution for their individual needs.

Understanding why front teeth appear large

Before exploring dental treatment options, it's essential to understand why front teeth might appear disproportionately large. Several factors can contribute to this appearance, including genetic predisposition, uneven tooth development, gum recession that exposes more tooth surface, or surrounding teeth that are unusually small, making the front teeth appear larger by comparison. Additionally, the relationship between your teeth, lips, and facial structure plays a crucial role in how your smile is perceived – perhaps not by others, but by you.

The first port of call when you visit Duxton Dental is an in-depth assessment to fully understand your dental needs, identify the underlying causes, and determine the most appropriate treatment for your specific situation. There is no singular solution, and you may find you are not offered your expected treatment if we don’t think it is the best dental treatment for your large front teeth and/ or long-term oral health. 



1. Invisalign and clear aligner therapy

Invisalign treatment represents one of the most popular and effective methods for addressing prominent front teeth without the need for traditional metal braces. This innovative orthodontic treatment uses custom-made, virtually invisible aligners to move your teeth into their optimal positions.

By applying gentle, controlled pressure to specific teeth, Invisalign aligners gradually reposition them over time. For patients with large front teeth, the treatment addresses various related issues such as crowding, spacing, protrusion, or rotational problems that make the front teeth appear oversized.

Our Invisalign dentist in Christchurch uses Duxton Dental’s cutting-edge technology to create a personalised treatment plan to achieve the best results while ensuring optimal oral health throughout the process. The typical Invisalign Riccarton treatment lasts between 12 to 18 months, depending on the complexity of your case.

2. Veneers: the gold standard in cosmetic enhancement

Veneers remain the gold standard in cosmetic dentistry for dramatically transforming the appearance of front teeth. Applying ultra-thin shells of medical-grade porcelain or composite are custom-crafted to fit over the front surface of the teeth, instantly creating a more proportionate and aesthetically pleasing smile.

The procedure typically involves minimal tooth preparation, where a small amount of enamel is carefully removed to accommodate the veneer thickness. This process ensures that your new teeth maintain a natural appearance while achieving the desired size reduction.

Duxton Dental offer two types of veneer: porcelain and composite. You may be more familiar with porcelain veneers as composite veneers are comparatively new – a more affordable, single visit way to enhance your smile. Our cosmetic dentistry Christchurch team ensure your veneers perfectly complement your facial features and personal preferences.



3. Botox treatment for gummy smiles

If front teeth appear disproportionately large, the issue may stem from excessive gum display rather than oversized teeth themselves. A ‘gummy smile’ occurs when too much gum tissue is visible above the upper teeth when smiling, making the teeth appear shorter and drawing unwanted attention to their size.

Not only is Botox great for wrinkles, it’s great for adjusting gummy smiles. Cosmetic dental Botox involves precise injections of botulinum toxin into the facial muscles that control lip elevation. By carefully relaxing the muscles responsible for lifting the upper lip too high during smiling, the treatment reduces excessive gum exposure and creates better proportion between the teeth and gums.

The treatment is performed at our Riccarton dental clinic and typically takes just 10-15 minutes with results that can last 3-4 months.

Benefits of dental Botox treatment:

·       Non-surgical solution with immediate improvement.

·       Minimal discomfort with no downtime required.

·       Reversible effects if desired.

·       Can be combined with other cosmetic dental treatments.

·       Results in a more balanced, confident smile.

4. Strategic teeth whitening for visual balance

While teeth whitening doesn't physically reduce tooth size, it can create the illusion of better proportion and harmony within your smile. Professional teeth whitening treatments can make all teeth appear more uniform in colour, drawing attention away from size discrepancies and creating a more balanced overall appearance.

When all teeth are the same bright, uniform colour, the eye perceives the smile as more cohesive and balanced. This optical effect can make larger front teeth appear less prominent while enhancing your overall smile aesthetics.