For many Americans, a bright healthy smile is considered socially important. However, only 35% of all American adults have teeth that are naturally well-aligned.
Fortunately, through cosmetic dentistry, those who are unhappy with their smiles can use a variety of procedures including teeth whitening, dental veneers, and tooth reshaping to get the smile they’ve always dreamed of.
Tooth reshaping, in particular, can help fix a tooth’s minor imperfections or misshapen appearance. If your own teeth have a few cosmetic imperfections you’d like to see improved, consider the following information about tooth reshaping to see if this cosmetic procedure is right for you.
How does tooth reshaping work?
Tooth reshaping, also known as cosmetic contouring or tooth contouring, is when a cosmetic dentist uses a laser or drill to carefully reshape the tooth. This is done by removing some of the tooth’s enamel and then polishing the tooth until it has an appealing look.
Like teeth whitening and tooth fillings, your teeth may be sensitive in the few hours after the procedure. Therefore, you may want to avoid drinking or eating cold or hot drinks/foods until the next day.
What are the benefits of cosmetic contouring?
Cosmetic contouring has a number of benefits that make it especially popular among dental patients. First, your tooth’s enamel doesn’t grow back. Therefore, your reshaped teeth are permanent and you don’t have to worry about the effects wearing off.
Secondly, cosmetic contouring is painless because there are no nerve endings located in the enamel. For this reason, patients who are nervous about potential dental pain when it comes to getting a perfect smile have nothing to worry about.
Finally, the procedure itself is relatively quick. In as little as 30 minutes, patients are able to see instant results and often don’t need to return for an additional visit.
Are there disadvantages to the procedure?
There are two main disadvantages when it comes to tooth contouring. The first is that, because the procedure involves removing some of the tooth’s enamel, you’ll have to be more careful about caring for your teeth to ensure the enamel that remains doesn’t wear away.
The second disadvantage is that tooth contouring can only be used to make cosmetic improvements on minor imperfections. This is because your tooth’s enamel is important to the overall health of your smile and your dentist can only remove so much of it.
If your teeth have minor cosmetic imperfections that you’d like fixed, consider talking to your cosmetic dentist about tooth contouring to see if you’re eligible. For more information on cosmetic dentistry procedures to improve your smile, make an appointment with Dr. Derek Wall today.
