Juan Manuel came to our office looking to improve the color of his teeth. However, after evaluating his case, it became clear that color wasn’t his only concern. He had previously undergone resin modifications to address the congenital absence of his lateral incisors, but the results didn’t convince him. His teeth appeared too square, too wide, and lacked a natural anatomy—especially the left “lateral”, which was actually a canine reshaped.
Dental agenesis is one of the most common developmental anomalies, affecting approximately 2% of the population when it comes to lateral incisors. In these cases, canines can migrate to occupy the missing space, creating both aesthetic and functional challenges. In Juan Manuel’s case, the width distribution had not been properly balanced in his previous treatment, making his smile look unnatural.
Beyond the proportions, his smile also lacked overall harmony. The anatomy of his teeth did not follow a natural size and shape progression, making his smile line appear completely flat. Additionally, wear on the incisal edge of his left central incisor further contributed to the asymmetry, emphasizing the difference from the right side and disrupting the balance with his lower teeth.
The challenge wasn’t just reshaping the canines to look like laterals; the adjacent premolars also had to be given the morphology of canines to create a seamless transition and ensure an aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking smile.
To correct this, Dr. Daniel Zabaleta performed six direct composite veneers, refining the morphology of the teeth to restore proper proportions and balance. The width of the laterals was adjusted, the natural progression between the anterior teeth was reestablished, and the incisal angles were carefully defined. The goal was to restore a harmonious curvature to his smile—one that naturally follows the contour of the lower lip when smiling. This is a key detail in dental aesthetics, as a well-defined smile curve enhances balance and attractiveness.
The final result didn’t just improve the color of his teeth; it brought back the natural, effortless beauty he was looking for. Because beyond the material or technique, the true success of an aesthetic treatment lies in the details.
Case review written by Dr. Laura Bula, expert in dental and facial aesthetics