Dental Contouring 101 – A Brief Overview for Patients  

Even though most patients assume cosmetic dental procedures are invasive and complicated, a few cosmetic procedures are simple, relatively inexpensive, and non-invasive. Dental contouring is the perfect example. If you have teeth that have points that are too sharp, have slight imperfections, or sem out of alignment with the rest of your teeth, dental contouring may be something to mention to your Redesa dentist.

How is dental contouring performed?

Dental contouring involves using a fine drill to carefully reshape certain points of the tooth enamel. The procedure is considered minimally invasive and can be completed in one office visit most of the time. During contouring, the dentist will use the drill to slough away small areas of enamel and then will use a polishing tool to give the newly contoured teeth a smooth surface. You may undergo an x-ray before the procedure to give the dentist a close look at the thickness of the tooth enamel.

Who is a good candidate for dental contouring?

Dental contouring is a simple procedure that can work really well for people who have minimal cosmetic issues. Some of the issues that can be addressed with dental contouring include:

• Small chips in tooth enamel
• Serrated tooth edges
• Uneven length of a tooth
• Slight overlapping
• Sharp edges

You are a good candidate for tooth contouring if you have a generally healthy smile. In the event contouring will exacerbate or cause any issues, the dentist may recommend another solution for enhancing your smile.

Will contouring harm your teeth?

Contouring is not harmful to your teeth. During the procedure, the dentist will only be removing a minuscule amount of enamel, which is not considering living tissue. In fact, the enamel does not contain nerves, so you may not even need a local anesthetic because you won’t feel anything other than a bit of vibration.

Find Out If You Are a Good Candidate for Dental Contouring in Reseda, CA

Certain cosmetic procedures can make all the difference in the confidence of your smile. If you would like to find out if dental contouring or other cosmetic procedures could be right for you, reach out to us at Canby Dental in Reseda, CA to schedule an appointment.