What is tooth recontouring?

Dental tooth recontouring involves the removal of minute amounts of tooth enamel in order to alter the surface contours, the length, and the shape of a tooth. It is a very quick and painless procedure. Sometimes, dental tooth recontouring is referred to as tooth reshaping or odontoplasty.

What is tooth recontouring used for?

tooth recontouring is a conservative cosmetic procedure and it is an effective way of correcting minor imperfections of your tooth. It can make your overall dental health much better by removing minor crevices or overlaps where plaque and tartar are likely to build up.

Keep in mind that tooth recontouring is not a replacement procedure for veneers or bonding. If you have major imperfections like deep chips or fractures then you should have veneers or bonding, not tooth recontouring.

You should comprehend what tooth recontouring can and can not do for you. Make sure that you have realistic expectations. Your dentist will show you before and after photographs of their other patients so you have an idea. You will see the kinds of improvements that can be made. Sometimes, your dentist may be able to use a computer imaging program that shows how your teeth will look like after the procedure.

When tooth recontouring can not completely fix imperfections on your tooth, your dentist may combine the treatment with bonding, a procedure that uses composite resin to repair or restore chips, cavities, and fractures.

tooth recontouring will not affect the living pulp of the tooth so anaesthetic isn’t needed. Most people need one or more visits in order to finish the treatment.

How do you prepare for tooth recontouring?

tooth recontouring can be done if the tooth structure is healthy. Your dentist may need to x-ray the tooth in order to find out the size and the location of the pulp of the tooth. The pulp is located at the centre of the tooth and it contains the blood vessels and the nerves. If your tooth has a thin layer of outer enamel then you may not be able to go through a tooth recontouring procedure. If your tooth’s pulp is too close to the surface then you may not be able to go through a tooth recontouring procedure as well.

How is tooth recontouring done?

Your dentist will use sanding disks or fine diamond burs to remove minute portions of your tooth enamel. Sometimes, strips of sandpaper will be used to shape and smooth out the imperfections. When the teeth are already shaped properly, they will be polished by your dentist.

What are the follow-up procedures for tooth recontouring?

tooth recontouring does not use artificial materials to shape your teeth. This means that your tooth will not require any special care after the procedure. If you get bonding for one or more of your teeth then you have to take extra care of them in keeping them clean and preventing stains.

What are the risks involved in tooth recontouring?

tooth recontouring does not pose any major risks although if the tooth enamel is relatively thin then your tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures after the procedure.

When should you call a professional?

You should not have any trouble after the tooth recontouring procedure. If your teeth become very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures then you should contact your dentist and talk about the problem.