Teeth Contouring Procedure

Teeth contouring, also known as teeth shaping, is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that involves removing small amounts of tooth enamel to change the shape, length, or surface of one or more teeth. This procedure is often used to correct minor imperfections such as slightly uneven teeth or teeth that are a bit too pointy.

The procedure begins with a thorough dental examination to determine if you're a suitable candidate for teeth contouring. This involves taking X-rays to ensure your teeth are healthy. Once you're deemed a suitable candidate, we use a sanding instrument to artfully eliminate or minimize imperfections on the surface of your teeth, and then finely polish your teeth.

Benefits of Teeth Contouring

Teeth contouring offers numerous benefits. It's a quick, simple, and non-invasive procedure that can significantly improve the appearance of your teeth. It can correct minor cosmetic issues such as small chips, bulges or pits in a tooth's enamel, irregular tooth shapes, and slightly overlapping or irregularly length teeth.

Teeth contouring can also improve oral health by removing crevices or overlaps where plaque and tartar can accumulate. Moreover, it's a painless procedure that typically doesn't require anesthesia, and it provides permanent results.

Teeth Contouring Risks

While teeth contouring is generally safe, like any procedure, it does carry some risks. These include tooth sensitivity due to the removal of enamel, and in rare cases, if too much enamel is removed, it can cause a tooth to become weak or break. However, at Sloan Dental, our experienced dentists ensure these risks are minimized by conducting a thorough examination before the procedure and removing the minimal amount of enamel necessary to achieve the desired results.

Teeth Contouring vs Veneers

While both teeth contouring and veneers can improve the appearance of your teeth, they are different procedures. Veneers involve applying a thin layer of porcelain or composite material over the front of your teeth, while teeth contouring involves reshaping your natural teeth by removing enamel.

Veneers can correct a wider range of cosmetic issues, including severe discoloration, gaps between teeth, and more significant shape issues. However, veneers are more invasive, more expensive, and require more maintenance than teeth contouring.