What is Dental Contouring?

Dental Contouring & Teeth Filing

Dental contouring and teeth filing, also referred to as tooth reshaping or enameloplasty is a procedure executed by dentists usually for cosmetic reasons, to slightly change the shape,
width or length of your teeth.
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What is the process of dental contouring?
Dental contouring involves removing small amounts of tooth enamel to change the shape and appearance of teeth. Your dentist will complete a full X-ray first, to ensure your teeth are healthy and that there is no damage caused throughout the process. Your dentist will then mark areas of your teeth using a pen or dental tool to help guide the contouring more precisely. The process is performed using abrasive dental instruments and can involve bonding, which uses composite material that match the colour of your teeth and reshapes the surface.

Sanding instruments are used to gently remove small amounts of enamel and change the shape of your teeth, removing any small imperfections. Once this has been finalised, the teeth are polished and smoothed before the process is complete. There usually isn’t any aftercare involved with this procedure, which is quick and effective with everything being finalised in the dental chair within one sitting.

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When would you need dental contouring or teeth filing?
Dental contouring and teeth filing is usually a cosmetic process, that is requested by the patient because of insecurities with minor teeth imperfections. Patients may have longer or jagged teeth that they’d like smoothed out to improve the look of their smile. This procedure can on occasion be suggested by your dentist if you have minor issues that may impact your other teeth. This can happen if you have a chipped or damaged tooth that has a sharp edge, which could cut your tongue, lips or be abrasive to other teeth. Your dentist may also suggest dental contouring if longer or wider teeth are affecting your bite, causing other teeth to move or crowd within the mouth.

Pros and cons of dental contouring
Like all medical procedures, there are aspects to consider before moving ahead. Below are
some pros and cons to consider before jumping into dental contouring:
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Pros of dental contouring:

• Cosmetic improvements to your smile - this procedure can assist in making patients more comfortable and confident with their smiles.
• Painless procedure – your dentist will complete a full X-ray prior and only make minor removals to surface enamel, meaning there’s normally no discomfort caused by
  this dental procedure.
• Can lower the risk of infection – If your dental contouring is removing overlaps and crowding within the mouth, this results in a lower chance of plaque and tartar build up in the small spaces between overlapping teeth.

• Provides a cheap alternative to cosmetic dentistry – depending on your personal dental health and teeth alignment, dental contouring can provide a fast and more value driven option for cosmetic dental changes when compared to braces and other teeth alignment options.

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Cons of dental contouring:
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• Risk of damage to teeth – due to this procedure involving the removal of enamel, there is a chance the affected tooth can become more exposed and sensitive after the procedure. If too much enamel is removed, your teeth can be susceptible to breakage.
• Only achieving small changes – as this procedure is limited by your tooth structure and position, it can only achieve small changes in the shape, length and width of your tooth. Sometimes these small changes are enough to make a big difference in your smile, and other times this process will need to be paired with braces or other procedures to achieve the desired results.
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If you’re thinking about dental contouring or teeth filing, the first step is to discuss this with our dentist. Book in your next dental appointment at www.myaffordabledentists.com.au

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