If your teeth’s shape, size, and form make you unhappy, you can do something to have them just right. The solution is dental contouring. Also called enameloplasty or odontoplasty, this cosmetic dental procedure involves taking out small portions of your tooth enamel to gain better length, shape, or surface of your tooth. Dental contouring corrects cracked, crooked, or chipped teeth.
Here’s some information you need to know about dental contouring, including whether it can improve your smile.
The Dental Contouring Procedure
Although its definition makes it appear like an arduous process, dental contouring is only a simple procedure. It is a noninvasive procedure that only takes out a part of the enamel. The enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth. It can be chipped off safely without exposing the inner parts of the tooth.
The dentist uses a laser or a sanding drill to shave the tooth quickly. He or she smooths out the chips or cracks and squares or rounds off the edges. The dentist also shapes and smoothens the sides of your teeth. Throughout the process, you do not feel any pain or need a recovery period afterward. The doctor completes the entire procedure in only one session, without any anesthetic.
After the procedure, the dentist examines your teeth again to ensure that your bite is aligned. If aligned, the dentist polishes your teeth to improve their aesthetics and enhance your smile.
In most cases, dental contouring is administered together with dental bonding. Dental bonding involves placing custom-made resin to your teeth to complete the look.
The Benefits Of Dental Contouring
In response to the question of whether dental contouring can help your smile, the answer is “yes.” Dental contouring fixes your smile by offering the following benefits:
- Fixes chipped, cracked, misaligned, and crooked teeth.
- Enhances the appearance of your teeth by altering their size and shape.
- Improves your teeth’s health by correcting minor imperfections and overlaps.
- Takes out any plaque and tartar, reducing your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
- Makes the teeth straighter and takes out some minor overlapping.
The procedure is relatively inexpensive. But, this depends on the amount of work needed per tooth. Although insurance policies do not typically cover cosmetic procedures, if a trauma incidence caused your imperfection, your insurance may take up a share of the cost. Also, the procedure is painless, and you do not feel any discomfort. Dental contouring is quick, and it is usually done in only one session. Your enhancement results are permanent. You may not need additional work to improve the shape of your teeth in the future.
Is Dental Contouring For You?
When deciding whether to take up dental contouring, it’s smart to seek a dental professional’s opinion. The professional understands the procedure and may give you an accurate picture of what the contouring can do for you. A consultation with one of our dentists should paint a clear picture of the results to expect. Even so, since this is a cosmetic procedure, the decision to have it lies on you. Your aesthetic goals and your budget should guide you in making a choice.
If you choose to take up the dental contouring procedure, get it done by the Orange Door Dental Group in Elkhart or Warsaw, Indiana. Call 574-347-4793 to reach our Elkhart office or 574-406-2115 to reach our Warsaw office.
