How to Naturally Improve Small Peg-Shaped Lateral Incisors with Anterior Veneers at a Bongcheon-dong Dental Clinic—Realistic Results Without Removing Natural Tooth Structure

Hello,

I am Dr. Jeong-gi Park, director of Seoul Remember Dental Clinic in Bongcheon-dong.

Some people have noticed at least once that the teeth next to their front teeth look particularly small when they smile.

When the teeth immediately next to the front teeth, called the lateral incisors, are noticeably smaller than the other teeth,

this is referred to medically as a peg-shaped tooth or peg lateral incisor.

Even when the teeth are generally well aligned,

this condition can make the overall dentition look somewhat awkward

or give the impression that the smile lacks balance.

Peg-shaped lateral incisors are congenitally underdeveloped in size.

Although they do not necessarily indicate a problem with the alignment or bite, many people feel self-conscious about them for aesthetic reasons.

Especially when viewed from the front,

if the difference in size is noticeable,

some people may lose confidence when smiling

or consciously cover their mouths.

Patients also occasionally visit our Bongcheon-dong dental clinic with concerns like these.

2026.05.14

In this case as well, the patient likely felt self-conscious about the small size of both upper lateral incisors.

One of the treatment methods often considered in situations like this is anterior veneers.

Veneers are a method of improving the shape and color of teeth by bonding thin porcelain pieces to their front surfaces.

One of their characteristics is that they require minimal, or sometimes almost no, removal of natural tooth structure.

When the teeth are small in size, as with peg-shaped teeth, the conditions may actually allow veneers to be placed without removing tooth structure.

At our Bongcheon-dong dental clinic, when patients are concerned about peg-shaped lateral incisors, we first examine this possibility when considering veneers.

The quality of anterior veneers also depends on how naturally they blend with the surrounding teeth.

2026.05.14

In this case, improving only the peg-shaped lateral incisors could have resulted in a difference in shade from the two central incisors.

In addition, since the two central incisors were slightly irregular in shape,

we determined that restoring all four front teeth would produce a much more realistic and pleasing result than treating only two teeth.

The number of teeth to be treated can be decided after a thorough consultation between the dentist and patient, so it is best to feel comfortable expressing your preferences on this matter.

At our Bongcheon-dong dental clinic, considering harmony with the adjacent teeth and left-right asymmetry, we believe that treating all four front teeth would result in much higher patient satisfaction.

When the teeth are treated together as part of the same plan, we can create restorations with similar shade, translucency, and surface texture, so they look even more natural and less noticeable.

Although veneers may appear relatively simple, several factors must be considered together, including tooth proportions, the midline, and the contact areas with adjacent teeth.

That is why it is important to carefully decide from the beginning how many teeth should be restored.

2026.05.22

Looking at the result after completing four-anterior-tooth Realinate treatment at our Bongcheon-dong dental clinic,

the size, shape, and color of the four front teeth were naturally improved.

2026.05.22

The gum line is also smooth,

and the treatment was completed successfully without interfering with the bite relationship.

2026.05.14 ~ 2026.05.22

If you have peg-shaped lateral incisors, Realinate is another option for creating balanced front teeth while preserving the natural teeth as they are.

In addition, at today's Bongcheon-dong dental clinic, we wanted to explain to patients with abnormal tooth shapes or disproportionate tooth sizes that treatment can be approached more conservatively than they may expect, despite concerns that a significant amount of tooth structure would need to be removed.

However, which option among crowns, composite resin, and veneers is right for you, whether treatment is truly possible without removing tooth structure, and whether your oral condition is suitable

can only be determined after a detailed examination, so please keep this in mind.

Thank you for reading.

This was Dr. Jeong-gi Park, director of Seoul Remember Dental Clinic in Bongcheon-dong.

Treatment period: 2026.05.14 ~ 2026.05.22