Microdontia
Microdontia is a developmental anomaly where one or more teeth are abnormally small relative to the jaw and adjacent dentition. It most often affects the maxillary lateral incisor, producing a characteristic peg-shaped crown, and may appear as an isolated finding or as part of a broader syndrome affecting multiple teeth.
The Smile Proportions That Microdontia Disrupts
A peg-shaped lateral incisor or a row of unusually small upper teeth creates a smile that looks unfinished regardless of how well the teeth are cared for. The disproportion between crown size and visible gingival tissue draws the eye to the gap rather than the smile as a whole, and patients are often unaware that the condition has a precise clinical cause and a reliable restorative solution. Beyond aesthetics, small teeth that fail to occupy their allotted space in the arch can allow adjacent teeth to drift, gradually complicating the bite.
Vellum Select's Istanbul specialists correct microdontia with pressed-ceramic veneers or a full digital smile design, building each tooth to ideal proportions in a process that typically spans five to seven days from consultation to final fit.
Treatment Options for Microdontia
View All ProceduresSmile Design in Turkey
Smile design (sometimes marketed as "Hollywood smile") is a comprehensive approach to transforming the appearance of a smile using a combination of veneers, crowns, gum contouring, and digital planning technology. It is not a single product but a methodology: every smile is designed individually based on the patient's facial proportions, lip dynamics, gum architecture, skin tone, and personal preferences.
arrow_forwardZirconium Crowns in Turkey
Zirconium (zirconia) crowns have become the preferred material for dental restorations worldwide, replacing older porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns that can develop dark lines at the gum margin and contain metal substructures. Zirconia offers the strength of metal with the aesthetics of ceramic, all without any metal component.
arrow_forwardSymptoms of Microdontia
The primary presentation is one or more teeth that appear visually smaller than their neighbours, creating gaps or disproportionate spacing in the arch. Peg-shaped maxillary lateral incisors are the most recognisable form, appearing as narrow, conical crowns flanked by normal-sized central incisors and canines. In generalised microdontia, multiple teeth across the arch are uniformly reduced, and the jaw may appear disproportionately large relative to the teeth it contains. Drifting and crowding of adjacent teeth can occur over time as small teeth fail to maintain arch space.
Diagnostic Pathways
Diagnosis is made through clinical examination supplemented by full-arch digital photographs and a study model or intraoral scan to assess crown dimensions and proportion. Periapical radiographs confirm root morphology and the presence of any associated anomalies. Where generalised microdontia is present, a medical history review screens for associated syndromes such as ectodermal dysplasia or Down syndrome. Digital smile design software allows the clinician to preview proposed crown dimensions on the patient's own photographs before any preparation takes place.
Advanced Treatment Options at Vellum Select
Vellum Select's dental clinics in Istanbul use a digital-first design process to build teeth to ideal proportions, previewing the outcome before committing to any irreversible preparation.
Zirconium Crowns
Where peg-shaped teeth have structurally poor enamel or require significant volume addition, a full zirconium crown provides the complete coronal form in a single durable restoration. Learn more about Zirconium Crowns in Turkey.
Smile Design
For cases involving multiple teeth or where the patient wishes to assess the outcome digitally before treatment, a full smile design workflow maps ideal proportions across the entire upper arch. Learn more about Smile Design in Turkey.
