Tooth Recontouring

A tooth recontouring procedure may involve the removal of small amounts of the tooth's enamel in order to alter the length, shape or surface of the tooth. It may also involve building up teeth with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or dental crowns. It is usually done to enhance the patient's smile and create a more balanced appearance to the teeth and smile. Terry W. Forsberg, DDS, provides tooth recontouring services at his Santa Cruz County, California dental practice, Advanced Smile Designs.

Tooth recontouring can be one of the most conservative procedures in cosmetic dentistry. Reshaping the enamel is quick and painless and you can see the results immediately. It is effective in correcting such minor imperfections as:

• Small chips in the enamel
• Bulges or pits in the enamel
• Irregular tooth shapes
• Adjusting tooth length

Tooth recontouring can also improve your overall dental health by removing imperfections on the sides of teeth where plaque, tartar and bacteria can be trapped between one tooth and the next. However, this type of tooth recontouring is not recommended for substantial imperfections like deep chips or fractures. It is also not a substitute for dental bonding or porcelain veneers, but can be combined with these procedures.

The Initial Exam

In order to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for tooth recontouring, Dr. Forsberg will need to take an X-ray of your teeth. This is to determine the size and location of your tooth's center. This is where the pulp containing nerves and blood vessels is located.

If the pulp is too close to the surface of the tooth, or the enamel of the tooth is too thin, enamel recontouring may not be an option. In this case, veneering or bonding may be the better option to meet your needs.

The Procedure

First, small amounts of your tooth enamel are removed with a fine diamond bur or sanding disc. Very fine sandpaper may also be used to reach areas between the teeth. Your teeth are then reshaped and polished to finish the process. Anesthesia is generally not needed for this procedure because the tooth pulp and dentin are not affected.

The only risk associated with tooth recontouring is if too much enamel is removed during the procedure. If this happens, the tooth may become sensitive to hot, cold, and eating sweets.

If you are interested in having a tooth recontouring procedure performed, or you would like to learn more about other cosmetic dental procedures provided by Terry W. Forsberg, DDS, please contact Advanced Smile Designs of Aptos, California.