Most of us have looked at our smile and thought, “If only I could fix the shape of that one tooth, my smile would look amazing.”
Maybe it’s a couple of teeth you wish were shaped a little different, but either way, you don’t have to just think wistfully about your dream smile when you can use our dental services to have your teeth reshaped.
What Is Teeth Reshaping And How Does It Work?
Teeth reshaping is when a dentist like our Dr. Taylor here at Radiance Family & Cosmetic Dentistry makes small and subtle changes to the surface of your teeth for a big visual impact. When it comes to teeth reshaping, there are generally two methods used—dental contouring and bonding.
Dental Contouring
Dental contouring is a cosmetic dentistry technique that requires the careful removal of minimal amounts of your enamel and only affects the outer layer of your teeth. This technique is particularly useful on uneven teeth where one or more is longer than the others, overly pointed canines, correcting slight overlaps, and more.
By doing this, Dr. Taylor can alter the length, overall shape, or surface of one or more of your teeth to create a more even, aligned appearance.
Bonding
Along with the contouring, often Dr. Taylor will also combine bonding, which is a treatment used by cosmetic dentists to add tooth-colored composite material to help shape and sculpt your teeth.
Say, for instance, that you have uneven front teeth which also have a gap. Our dentist can even up the base of the teeth to match, then use bonding to fill in the gap, giving you a far more even smile.
Advantages Of Teeth Reshaping
If you haven’t guessed, there can be significant advantages to teeth reshaping. Some of the reasons why you might want to have one or more teeth reshaped are:
Very inexpensive cosmetic dentistry – As far as cosmetic dentistry procedures go, dental contouring and bonding can be incredibly affordable, especially if you only have one or two teeth you want to be reshaped. Also, if the teeth were damaged in an accident or due to trauma, you may be able to have your insurance cover some or all the procedure.
Can help improve dental health – Imperfections in the surface or alignment of your teeth cause dental health issues as plaque and tartar are able to build up. By removing these danger spots with dental contouring, you can improve the overall health of your teeth.
Painless procedure – As teeth reshaping only affects the outer layers of enamel, the cosmetic dentistry procedure isn’t usually painful, and Dr. Taylor won’t need any anesthesia to complete the contouring.
Potentially replaces your need for braces – While those with seriously misaligned teeth will need either traditional braces or Invisalign, if you only have a few affected teeth, you can skip the months of braces and just have your teeth reshaped.
There are some consideration you may want to keep in mind if you are considering pursuing teeth reshaping, such as:
- The changes made with teeth reshaping aren’t drastically different. Instead, our dentist makes subtle, natural-looking changes to improve your smile. For a dramatic difference in your smile, a smile makeover with Dr. Taylor may be what you are looking for to give you that wow factor.
- As the teeth reshaping process removes some of the hard, enamel layers of your teeth, your teeth can become more sensitive things like cold foods. They also may be at danger for chipping or breaking in the future with too much enamel removed.
Is Teeth Reshaping Right For You? Ask Our Dentist
While there are many advantages to teeth reshaping, it isn’t for everyone. Also, even if you are a good candidate, you may need to have other dental work done, such as having a cavity filled, before it is safe to have your teeth reshaped. To find out if teeth reshaping is for your dental needs, you will need to have a consultation with Dr. Taylor.
To set up a consultation with Dr. Taylor about teeth reshaping or any of our cosmetic dentistry services, contact us to schedule your appointment today and take a step closer toward your dream smile.
