A healthy set of teeth, we believe, is equal to a perfect smile. That is true — well, partly true.
Keeping our oral health in check is not enough to get a gorgeous smile because not everyone is born with a perfectly white, straight set of teeth. Some experiences problems in the development of their teeth during childhood due to prolonged thumbsucking or pacifier use, among other factors.
But fret not. Dentistry has a way to address those issues and make your most beautiful smile a possibility.
How can I better the appearance of my teeth?
The answer is cosmetic dentistry. Through the years, the branch of medicine concerned with our oral health was not only looking for ways to avoid cavities. Dental experts have also created a means to improve the aesthetics of the teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry involves elective and preferred treatments and procedures for the enhancement of oral appearance.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures helps resolve a crooked, chipped, lost, stained, or discolored tooth. There are a lot of treatments under cosmetic dentistry including tooth reshaping.
What is tooth reshaping?
If your tooth has chips, pits, lumps, or irregularly shaped, you can employ a tooth reshaping procedure.
Also called odontoplasty, tooth reshaping is a painless procedure which effectively enhances the aesthetics of the tooth while improving the overall dental health.
The procedure improves the teeth in a conservative and quick way because it only removes a part of the enamel, the tooth’s outermost layer, with the use of laser or drill. Tooth reshaping alters the length, surface, and shape of the tooth.
How is my tooth “reshaped”?
A tooth reshaping procedure begins with a dental X-ray which is done to check the size and location of the dental pulp, making sure that it will remain unharmed by the process.
Also, an X-ray is vital because it reviews the suitability of the patient to undergo the process. Not everyone is advised to get his or her tooth reshaped.
People with a decayed tooth, pulp infection, or unhealthy gums are not advised to have a tooth reshaping procedure.
People with thin enamel or a dental pulp with proximity to the tooth’s surface is not qualified for tooth reshaping. As the procedure calls for the removable of some enamel, removing a portion of an already thin enamel can weaken the tooth.
Before subscribing to the treatment, careful consideration must be done because the enamel is irreplaceable.
After an X-ray, the dentist will mark the tooth to highlight the portions for sculpting. With a diamond bur, he or she will remover some enamel to eliminate or minimize a tooth’s shape, length, or surface, addressing imperfections of the tooth’s appearance.
Afterwards, the dentist will use a sand-paper-like strip to shape and smooth flaws between the teeth and on the sides of a tooth.
Then, the dentist polishes and smooths the tooth. Often, the patients will not need a follow-up appointment. However, when an issue arises after the procedure, visit your dentists immediately.
What are the pros and cons of Tooth Reshaping?
The advantages of tooth reshaping are:
- The low cost which can also be covered by an insurance policy especially if the problem is due to an accident or trauma. Ask your insurance provider about it.
- Quick and painless as it requires no anesthesia
- Improves oral health by removing plaque and tartar along the way
- Can substitute expensive treatments like orthodontic braces for minor tooth misalignment or overlapping. Note that it is only an alternative for minor imperfections.
The disadvantages of the procedure include:
- Less dramatic changes and only suitable for minor issues
- Dentin exposure due to the thinning of the enamel
- Tooth sensitivity
- Talk to a dentist about tooth reshaping for more information.