Have you ever felt self-conscious about your teeth or your smile? Do you have a minor defect in your pearly whites that you would like to correct? Sometimes little defects in your teeth can attract more attention than we would like. The eye often seems drawn to the tiny chip in a front tooth; the slight mismatch in tooth size among adjacent teeth; the extra-pointy canine. If you find yourself staring at these subtle yet distracting features in your own smile, sometimes the smallest changes make a big difference.
What is Dental Contouring?
Tooth reshaping, also called dental contouring, is a cosmetic dental procedure that deals with making subtle changes to someone’s teeth. During dental contouring, small amounts of tooth enamel (the outer covering of the tooth) are removed, in order to change the shape, length, or surface of one or more teeth. The most common cosmetic dental problems that can be corrected with dental contouring include: small chips, uneven tooth length, slight overlaps, and tooth edges that are too flattened or pointy. It can even be used to correct minor bite problems from teeth touching unevenly during contact.
What Happens During the Dental Contouring Procedure?
Dental X-rays may be taken before the reshaping and contouring begin to ensure that your teeth are healthy. During the tooth reshaping process, your dentist will mark your teeth with a pen to highlight areas that need sculpting. A sanding instrument is used to artfully eliminate or minimize imperfections on the surface of the teeth, and sandpaper-like strips may be used to contour the sides of the teeth. Finally, the teeth are smoothed and polished.
Are you a Candidate for Tooth Reshaping?
Tooth reshaping and dental contouring are best for people who just need tiny adjustments or repairs to improve the look and feel of their teeth. Sometimes tooth reshaping and dental contouring are the first steps toward more extensive cosmetic dentistry work. If you want to avoid the time and expense of major cosmetic dentistry, dental contouring could be the way to a better smile.
If you think you may be a candidate for dental contouring, call Dedicated Dental at (702) 566-5509 to request an appointment.
