Tooth Contouring & Re-Shaping

What are the most common benefits of this procedure?

The goal of tooth contouring and reshaping is to change the size or shape of the teeth so that slightly damaged or out of proportion teeth are brought back into alignment with the rest. In essence a cosmetic procedure, it is most often performed on the upper central, lateral, and canine teeth. Beyond the outward benefits, there are often oral health gains, too, as smoothing the teeth and repairing overlaps can make them easier to clean, reducing the risk of The primary consideration for the suitability of cavities and gum disease. Reshaping can also be used to correct minor problems with bite and function.

What will happen at the initial consultation?

At the initial consultation, the dentist will examine your teeth and determine whether the defects that are present in your smile are sufficiently minor to be corrected using contouring and reshaping. He will also x-ray the teeth to make sure that they are healthy enough to undergo removal of a small amount of the surface enamel.

How is the procedure performed?

Tooth contouring and reshaping takes place generally in one visit to the dentist's office, although a follow-up visit is sometimes necessary. Often the dentist will take a "before" photograph to use as a reference. Then, using various tools, the dentist carefully polishes off small areas of the tooth surface enamel and reforms the tooth into a more attractive shape. The edges of the newly shaped tooth are smoothed and polished, completing the procedure. An "after" photograph is made at this point so the differences can be easily seen. After contouring, the teeth are more uniform in shape and size making them appears less crowded and eye-catching imperfections are gone.

How long does the procedure take?

The length of the procedure is dependent on the amount of changes that are being made to the teeth, but can run from under 30 minutes to over an hour.

Where will the procedure be performed?

The procedure is performed in the dentist's office.

How much pain is there?

Because only surface enamel is removed, there is no pain involved with the procedure, so no anesthetic is administered.

What can I expect after the procedure?

Occasionally, there is minor sensitivity to hot and cold for a day or two after the procedure, but this irritation is minor and almost uniformly disappears a short time after the procedure.

What is the recovery period like?

Recovery for almost every patient undergoing tooth contouring or reshaping is instantaneous. You can generally eat immediately after the procedure. The removal of the small amount of enamel does not hurt the tooth nor is it replaced, so no healing is involved.

What is the long-term outcome like for most people?

Tooth contouring permanently changes the shape of the teeth to a more esthetic look. However, if the wearing of the teeth was due to grinding, the same problem can recur.

Ideal Candidate:

An ideal candidate would have minor imperfections in their teeth such as small chips, minor unevenness, slight overlaps, shallowly pitted surfaces, or worn biting areas in their teeth. Other indications for the procedure are one or more teeth out of proportion in size to the rest of the set, such as large, pointy canine teeth. Note that reshaping can only occur on healthy teeth, so x-rays are often taken before the procedure is done to check for problems. Some characteristics of the teeth that might preclude reshaping are: thin enamel, previous extensive restorations of the tooth or surrounding teeth, recently erupted teeth, teeth having gum structure that would be disturbed by the procedure, or teeth that are still shifting. Some contouring is not recommended if it will adversely affect the patient's bite.

Risks and Limitations:

The risks involved in the procedure include the removal of too much enamel, subjecting the tooth to a greater chance of breakage or decay, or reappearance of the problem if it is due to grinding of the teeth. However, seeing an experienced cosmetic dentist virtually eliminates these risks.

Costs

The cost of the procedure is dependent on the amount of reshaping that is necessary, but in almost all cases it is relatively inexpensive compared to other dental work. Generally fees run from about $50 to about $350 per tooth. If the reshaping is necessary because of an accident, your dental insurance might cover it. However, this procedure is usually an elective one and is paid out of pocket.

Questions to ask your dentist:

What exact changes to my teeth are you planning with the contouring and reshaping procedure?

How many visits will be needed?

What is your estimated cost of the procedure?

How much discomfort do you anticipate?

What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)

What percentages of patients have had significant complications? (The dentist should disclose this information to you.)

Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not meet agreed upon goals?

And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The dentist should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)

What kind of longevity can I expect?

May I see "before and after" photos of recent patients? The dentist should provide many photos of recent patients.

Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have it done? (Either on videotape or ask to view one in real life.)

What should I expect after the procedure, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, and any limitations?

Do you offer patient financing?