Do you have an overlapping or crooked tooth that bothers you every time you look in the mirror? If so, you’re likely a good candidate for tooth contouring, also known as tooth reshaping, at Denison Dentistry.
Not only does tooth contouring benefit your smile aesthetics, it’s also good for your long-term oral hygiene and health. Crooked teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, causing them to be at greater risk for both tooth decay and gum disease, which can be expensive to treat if allowed to continue. For example, plaque and tartar tend to accumulate in the tiny spaces where teeth overlap and even brushing and flossing conscientiously are insufficient to combat tooth decay in such tiny spaces.
How Does the Tooth Contouring Procedure Work?
To reshape or contour your teeth, your dentist will carefully and gently remove problematic areas of tooth enamel with dental instruments and abrasion techniques. Before beginning the actual contouring, he or she may X-ray your teeth to assess the location and amount of tooth pulp, as contouring can only be performed on healthy teeth and gums.
In the next step, your dentist will trim misshapen areas, alter badly shaped teeth to even them out for proper alignment and bite (the way teeth fit together) or shorten disproportionately long teeth. Tooth reshaping also can repair shallowly pitted tooth surfaces and worn biting areas in teeth.
A sanding instrument is used to abrade away imperfections on a tooth surface. Then he or she smoothes and polishes your corrected tooth or teeth. The procedure generally takes between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number and complexity of repairs performed.
Advantages of Tooth Contouring
Like braces, tooth reshaping can boost your confidence in your appearance a great deal by fixing visibly uneven teeth. Compared to braces, however, it is among the least time-consuming and least expensive cosmetic dentistry options. It is generally painless and involves no anesthesia.
John J. Denison, DDS, and his team provide expert and experienced cosmetic dentistry services in Newport News, VA. Please contact us at (757) 873-9000 for an appointment or request your appointment online. We look forward to transforming not only your smile’s attractiveness, but improving your oral health in the process.
