A healthy smile includes strong teeth, but there is more to it than that. Even if your teeth are healthy and functional, slight imperfections can impact your confidence and self-esteem. If you want to make small changes to your smile without a complete overhaul that breaks that bank, consider dental recontouring.
How can a dentist recontour the mouth?
Dental recontouring (also called mouth recontouring, odontoplasty, enameloplasty, stripping, or slenderizing) is a cosmetic dental procedure that can help make small changes to the look of your mouth and teeth. These changes may not be necessary for proper bite or the function of the teeth, but can drastically improve your smile.
Dental recontouring can address conditions that affect the appearance of your teeth, including:
- Small chips and cracks
- Overlapping teeth
- Extra pointy teeth
- Bulges or grooves in the enamel
There are two main types of dental recontouring: tooth recontouring and gum recontouring.
Tooth recontouring
Tooth recontouring (or teeth recontouring if there are multiple imperfections to correct) gently and safely changes the shape and size of teeth to make them more regular and even.
This may mean smoothing away pointed teeth so that your bite appears level. Some types of minor overcrowding can be fixed with tooth recontouring as well. Removing even a small amount of enamel from several teeth may offer enough space to relieve overcrowding and even out your smile.
Tooth recontouring not only brings balance and harmony to your smile but also eliminates cracks and crevices that are hard-to-clean. Even though this is a primarily cosmetic procedure, there are benefits to your oral health as well!
Recontouring front teeth
Recontouring front teeth requires a deft and artistic hand. Once enamel is removed from teeth, it cannot be replaced. In some cases, recontouring front teeth may include not removing enamel but instead building up a tooth that has a chip (dental bonding). This is done with composite resin.
However, composite resin used in bonding teeth does not last forever. There may even be a risk of discoloration or staining that is uneven or increasingly obvious over time. It is important to visit your dentist regularly for checkups to ensure that your dental recontouring is holding up well. Only work with highly-trained dentists who have plenty of experience in dental recontouring to find your best smile.
Gum recontouring
Gum recontouring, specifically as a treatment for gummy smile, is a bit more invasive and comes with a longer recovery time.
If your teeth are balanced and shining but your gums are showing more than you would like, you may be a candidate for gum recontouring with a gingivectomy or crown lengthening procedure. For both of these surgical procedures, the gums are removed or pulled away from the teeth. This creates more balance between the amount of tooth and the amount of gum visible when you smile.
The procedure is more extensive, and the recovery period is about three months. In some cases, gingivectomy can also be used to treat periodontal disease, with the added bonus of a more beautiful smile when the healing is done.
What can I expect during a dental recontouring procedure?
Regardless of the procedure, our focus at AZ Dentist is gentle, compassionate care for all of our patients. Your comfort is most important to us, and it starts with your first appointment. We will listen to your concerns, answer all of your questions, and present your options. An informed patient is the best kind of patient, and we want you to be in charge of creating your best smile.
If you decide on tooth recontouring, we will start with checking the underlying health of your teeth. After that, the specific procedure steps will be different for each patient but may include:
- Marking the areas of the teeth to be reshaped or recontoured
- Using an abrasive instrument to remove the appropriate amount of enamel to reshape the tooth or teeth
- In some cases, when combining teeth recontouring with bonding, using composite resin to repair any chips and reshape the teeth
- If composite resin is used, hardening it with a blue light before shaping and polishing
Throughout the procedure, your comfort remains of paramount important. Generally, this type of dental recontouring does not require any anesthesia, but let us know if you feel uncomfortable.
Gum recontouring procedures
Both gingivectomy and crown lengthening procedures are surgical procedures that will require a local anesthetic. If you are nervous or feeling anxiety about the procedure, we can offer you a mild sedative before the procedure as well.
Once you are comfortable and relaxed, we will carefully perform the surgery before thoroughly rinsing the area (and sometimes adding a stitch if necessary).
Benefits of dental recontouring
There are many advantages to using dental recontouring to reshape and rejuvenate your smile.
It’s affordable
For minor imperfections and corrections, dental recontouring is more affordable than veneers or other types of cosmetic improvements.
It’s generally pain-free
Tooth recontouring removes only a small amount of enamel, not enough to touch sensitive nerves. Because of this, anesthetic is not necessary.
This is a bonus for patients who do not like needles!
May reduce your need for orthodontics
When braces are being considered to fix minor crowding or overlap
, tooth recontouring may just be enough to correct the issue. This saves money and time! Dental recontouring is no substitute for proper orthodontic care in cases where the bite is severely compromised, but for minor imperfections it might do the trick.
It is true that dental recontouring effects are subtle, and for some patients this may not be enough of a change. Removing enamel is also a tricky process – removing too much may weaken teeth. It’s important that you discuss your concerns with a dentist who recognizes these concerns and has the experience to truly work with you to create a great smile.
AZ Dentist is your cosmetic dentist in the Phoenix area. Let us help you gently reveal your most beautiful smile. Get in touch today!