Tooth reshaping, also known as tooth contouring, is a cosmetic dentistry technique that helps improve your smile by reshaping crooked, chipped off, long or short teeth. With an annual growth rate of 5.8% from the year 2023-2032, tooth contouring has become a popular treatment option for people who have been facing minor dental issues.
Tooth reshaping can also be used for slight malocclusions. 39-93% of teenagers go through malocclusion worldwide, making it one of the biggest dental issues in today’s time. In the following article, we will go through a detailed overview of what tooth reshaping is, when it is appropriate, and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.
What is tooth reshaping?
Tooth reshaping or tooth contouring is a cost effective cosmetic dentistry treatment that helps enhance the appearance of your teeth by reshaping them or changing their length. It is a painless procedure in which your dentist may remove a small portion of your tooth enamel and then reshape the problematic tooth.
This fixes all minor dental issues such as chipped and crooked teeth, and even slight misalignments. Tooth contouring might be the ideal solution for your minor dental problems.
Procedure
Here is what you might expect during the treatment’s procedure:
- Consultation: the first step of tooth contouring is consulting a good dentist. The dentist carefully examines your teeth and helps you decide the best possible treatment option for your teeth.
- X-rays: During the examination, the dentist will also perform an x-ray of your oral cavity to check the health of your teeth and gums.
- Removing enamel: after ensuring good health, your dentist will start the procedure by initiating the removal of your tooth enamel. He or she may use specialized equipment for removing the enamel, such as a sanding disc.
- Reshaping teeth: Next comes the tooth reshaping step. In this step, the dentist will trim long teeth to shorten them and smoothen out the uneven edges if any.
- Dental bonding: In case of chipped teeth or gaps, the dentist may use dental bonding to cover and reshape them.
- Polishing: In the final step, your dentist will polish your newly shaped teeth to give them a natural and complete look.
Pros and Cons
Before you decide to get the tooth contouring treatment, make sure you consult a good dentist to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. Following are a few pros and cons of the treatment that may help you decide whether tooth reshaping is the right option for your teeth.
Pros
- Better smile
Your smile is one of the first things that get noticed wherever you go. Whether a business meeting or a social event, your first impression is enhanced by your smile. This is one of the many reasons why one must have a good, straight smile that boosts his or her confidence.
Tooth reshaping helps put a bright and smooth smile on your face by contouring your teeth to perfection. Say goodbye to crooked and chipped off with tooth reshaping.
- Cost effective
Dental procedures are usually costly, hence stopping people from getting their dental problems fixed. But no need to worry when considering tooth reshaping as it is one of the most cost effective treatments available in dentistry.
- Painless
This is a painless procedure that does not affect your gums. As discussed earlier, it involves removing a portion of your enamel. Enamel is the outer layer of your tooth and does not have any nerves, thus causing no pain when being removed.
Secondly, this is the best treatment option for people who have dental treatment anxiety as it does not involve giving anesthesia to the patient.
- Preserves natural teeth
Tooth reshaping involves removing only a small piece of your teeth, thus maintaining the integrity of your natural teeth. Your teeth are polished soon after the completion of the treatment to ensure that their aesthetic appeal is preserved.
Furthermore, this only removes minor imperfections from your teeth and does not affect the structure and integrity of your teeth.
Cons
Following are a few disadvantages that you may need to know before considering the treatment:
- Treats minor issues: Tooth reshaping only treats minor dental problems such as chipped off or crooked teeth. Severe problems such as cavities and decay require surgical treatments such as extraction or filling.
- Tooth sensitivity: You may experience a little tooth sensitivity soon after you are done with the treatment.
- Irreversible: It is an irreversible treatment as the tooth enamel cannot regenerate.
- Insurance does not pay for it: Before you go for the treatment, you must know that dental insurance does not pay for teeth reshaping.
When is it appropriate?
Tooth reshaping is appropriate for individuals who wish to solve minor dental issues such as:
- Minor imperfections: it is the ideal treatment for people who have chipped off teeth or uneven surfaces or edges.
- Uneven teeth: This is appropriate for teeth that are uneven and irregular in shape. Reshaping allows the teeth to become equal and identical to the surrounding teeth. It is also used in cases of uneven lengths of teeth, for example if an individual has teeth that are a little longer than other teeth in his or her mouth, they can go for reshaping.
- Slight malocclusion: even though malocclusion, also known as overcrowding or overlapping of teeth is considered a major issue, if there is a slight malocclusion, reshaping can fix it by simply scraping off the unnecessary part of your teeth that causes overlapping.
Conclusion
Tooth reshaping has completely transformed the way dentists treat minor dental issues. Tooth reshaping aims to fix minor issues in a painless way without surgery. Being cost-effective is one of the biggest advantages of the treatment, allowing everyone to have access to it.
If you are also seeking a good treatment for your crooked or chipped off teeth, look no further than Lycian Dental Clinic where you will find the best dentist for your treatment. We, at lycian Clinic, offer the best services for your treatment. So, book your appointment today.