How Tooth Contouring and Reshaping Can Improve Your Smile

May 01, 2020

Sometimes a cracked or chipped tooth can be a source of embarrassment. They have tendencies to attract unwanted attention. The cosmetic solutions that can rectify such problems like implants can take months before your smile can be restored.

The advances in modern dentistry have made it possible for you to change the appearance of your teeth in a matter of minutes through reshaping teeth orthodontics. You are able to receive a desirable shape of your teeth.

Here are some of the things you need to know before you can get a smile makeover.

Tooth Reshaping 101

Tooth contouring is a cosmetic dentistry technique that involves the chiseling away of some of your enamel to achieve the desired shape of your teeth. It is done to change the length, shape, and surface of a tooth or several teeth.

Though there might be drills or lasers involved at times, the chiseling can be a few millimeters, which can make a huge difference aesthetically. The teeth contouring procedure is typically done to teeth that can have more impact visibly.

Who Can Benefit From the Procedure?

Tooth contouring and reshaping are done to help you restore your smile. You are a candidate for tooth reshaping and contouring if you have the following issues:

Excessively large teeth
Crooked teeth
Teeth fracture
Excessively small teeth
Pointy teeth

How Is It Performed?

Though tooth reshaping is a fast procedure, it needs careful planning for it to produce the desired results. It is not only about removing enamel (outer covering of the tooth). It is an artistic skill that needs an experienced hand lest you leave the dentist’s office worse than when you came in.

That being said, dental X-Rays will be taken to make sure that you have healthy teeth. Our dentist will then mark the teeth and the areas to be sculpted with a pen. A sanding instrument will then eliminate the marked areas. Then your teeth will be smoothed and then polished. The process takes roughly 30 minutes per tooth.

Irrespective of the above procedure, a specific treatment plan has to be formulated to suit your unique needs. In that case, there are three approaches that our dentist can take:

- Natural Teeth Reduction

This approach is appropriate when our dentist ascertains that your large teeth are not blending well with your facial features. The tooth will be reshaped in such a way that it doesn’t expose the pulp.

- Tooth Bonding

If you need restoration of your chipped, crooked, or excessively small teeth, then our dentist will restore your teeth by adding colored restorative material to your teeth. This is what is known as tooth bonding. The composite material used typically resembles the color of your teeth, which makes them routinely used during these procedures.

- Veneers

In severe cases where your tooth has very little structure left to support bonding, porcelain veneers are placed on your teeth.

Is It Painful?

The process is not painful. In fact, there is very little that happens to your teeth that there is no need for local anesthesia. You might feel some vibration during the process, nothing more. If there will be little structure remaining, then anesthesia can be used for the remainder of the procedure.

Advantages

Though this procedure lies on the conservative side, you still need to weigh the pros and cons and see if it’s right for you. Here are some of the advantages:

Painless – since part of the enamel is removed during the process; there is no need for anesthesia.
Cost – As compared to the other cosmetic approaches, it is quite an inexpensive solution, especially in mild cases.
Possible braces substitute – there are situations where reshaping and contouring can be a substitute for braces because the procedure can make the teeth look a little straighter.
Enhance oral health – eliminating overlaps and other imperfections where plaque can accumulate reduces the risk of decay or gum disease.

Disadvantages

Here are some of the drawbacks:

Increased risk of tooth damage – depending on how much enamel is removed during the procedure, sensitivity can follow. If the enamel that was removed was too much, your tooth might break.
Small changes – your teeth will not dramatically change as compared to other cosmetic treatments. You will need veneers for a noticeable smile makeover.

Teeth reshaping and contouring can change the appearance of teeth. Anyone can come, even if you need teeth reshaping after braces, you can contact Bella Smiles and book an appointment.