Tooth Contouring, Dentist
By Yodle Local | Published on October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments
For men and women of all ages suffering from cracked, chipped, overlapping, or irregularly shaped teeth, dental tooth contouring can be a quick and relatively painless way to achieve a movie-star smile.
Generally performed by a cosmetic dentist, tooth contouring allows trained dentistry professionals to reshape the length, position, and shape of a patient’s teeth with the help of computer imaging and X-ray technologies. And unlike costly procedures—such as veneers—and time-consuming solutions—such as braces—tooth contouring can be used to correct a patient’s entire smile in as little as a day.
What is tooth contouring?
Tooth contouring—also known as dental contouring—is when a cosmetic dentist changes the shape, length, position, and overall look of a patient’s teeth through a sculpting process that involves a sanding drill or laser. Thanks to recent advances in computer imagine technology, most cosmetic dentists can now show patients what their smile will eventually look like before going through with the procedure.
Once the patient has agreed on a final look, the cosmetic dentist will begin the procedure by gradually removing a small amount of surface enamel from the teeth. Once this enamel has been removed, the dentist will likely rub an abrasive strip across the teeth to further alter the shape before eventually smoothing and polishing teeth throughout the entire mouth. Although some patients request novacaine prior to undergoing the procedure, many others find that anesthesia of any kind is completely unnecessary.
While tooth contouring delivers immediate results for many patients, some may need to come back for a maximum of three tooth contouring appointments before achieving the smile they desire. For those patients who desire more dramatic results, many cosmetic dentists recommend returning to the office for follow-up procedures using techniques such as bonding and veneers.
Who are the best candidates for tooth contouring?
Tooth contouring is an ideal solution for a patient of any age who has ever wish his or her teeth were less crowded, lacked pits and groves, or didn’t feature prominent chips or fractures.
Due to the nature of the procedure, the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry reports that optimal candidates for tooth contouring should have healthy teeth with a normal amount of bone to ensure that the contouring enamel has enough live bone tissue to graft on to. Candidates with thin enamel, gum structure problems, teeth that are still shifting, or teeth that have recently erupted may not be considered ideal candidates for the tooth contouring procedure, and may need to eventually seek out a different cosmetic dentistry procedure to find the results they are looking to achieve.
What are the benefits of tooth contouring?
For patients looking to make minor tweaks to the look of their smile, tooth contouring can be a perfect solution. Among the benefits contouring can deliver, according to the Colonial Dental Group in Chicago, include changing the shape and length of teeth, fixing chips and features, correcting unevenness and tooth overlaps, reducing the look of overcrowding, and diminishing the pitted surfaces that plague so many smiles.
Because even small changes in the mouth can deliver major results, patients undergoing tooth contouring can expect a brand new smile upon the completion of the procedure.
In addition to the cosmetic benefits, tooth contouring can deliver benefits to a patient’s overall dental health as well, since reducing overlapping teeth makes them easier to clean and reduces the risk of cavities and other oral infections such as gum disease. Small problems with a patient’s bite and chewing function can also be remedied by tooth contouring as well.
What risks are involved?
Because tooth contouring involves removing enamel from the teeth, the largest risk of the procedure is of removing too much enamel, thus increasing the chances of breaking a tooth or experiencing rapid decay. Any patient who knows that he grinds his teeth during the night should avoid undergoing a tooth contouring procedure, since he is more likely to experience complications and may find the results of the contouring process to be short-lived.
With that said, these risks can be greatly reduced by choosing a licensed cosmetic dentist with experiencing in performing the tooth contouring procedure. For recommendations on how to find a qualified professional, check with dental licensing boards or your local Chamber of Commerce.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.