Esthetic shaping, or recontouring, is a cosmetic procedure also known as enameloplasty, odontoplasty, tooth contouring, or simply tooth reshaping.
Enamel shaping is a dental cosmetic process that involves contouring natural teeth to improve their overall appearance by removing small amounts of tooth enamel in order to change the length, shape, or surface contours of a tooth.
The cosmetic goal of an enamel recontouring procedure is to correct problems in the aesthetic harmony and balance in the mouth in order to achieve a more attractive appearance.
Esthetic shaping is a quick, easy, and economical way to correct many minor irregularities in the shape or texture of teeth. It may be used to correct the look of misshapen, oversized, rough, crooked, chipped, or overlapping teeth.
Tooth contouring can provide a solution to:
- correct uneven front teeth
- correct small chips or surface flaws
- round-off pointed canine teeth
- shorten teeth that appear too long (common problem with canines)
- correct minor overcrowding problems
- adjust teeth to create a smile that follows the contour of the lower lip
Beside the cosmetic effects, enamel shaping can improve overall dental health by removing minor crevices (chips and other surface flaws) or overlaps (crowded teeth without enough interdental spaces) in which plaque or tartar can accumulate.
What is the treatment like?
In the enamel shaping treatment, the cosmetic dentist will use a sanding disk or fine diamond burs to remove small amounts (generally not more than one to two millimeters) of tooth enamel where needed. If there are imperfections between teeth, they may use strips of sandpaper to shape and smooth the sides.
Once the teeth are reshaped properly, the dentist will polish the teeth. Because dental recontouring involves only the enamel (the outer layer of the tooth that has no nerves), without affecting the living part of the tooth (dental pulp), it usually can be done without anesthetic.
The procedure is quick and painless, typically completed in only one appointment, and the results can be seen immediately. Schedule an appointment today.