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The Effect
Dental recontouring involves the removal of small amounts of tooth enamel in order to change the length, shape or surface contours of a tooth. This is a relatively quick and painless procedure. It is also called tooth reshaping or odontoplasty.
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The Procedure
Your dentist will use a sanding disk or fine diamond burs to remove small amounts of tooth enamel. He or she may use strips of sandpaper to shape and smooth imperfections between teeth. Once the teeth are reshaped properly, your dentist will polish them.
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Best Candidates
Recontouring is one of the most conservative cosmetic procedures. It is an effective way to correct minor imperfections. It can improve overall dental health by removing minor crevices or overlaps where plaque or tartar can build up.
However, recontouring is not a substitute for veneers or bonding. Recontouring probably would not be the best course if your teeth have a major imperfection such as a deep chip or fracture.
You should understand what recontouring can and can't do for you so you have realistic expectations. Your dentist may show you before-and-after photographs of other patients. This will allow you to see exactly what sorts of improvements are possible. Or your dentist may use a computer imaging program to show what your teeth will look like after the procedure is done.
When recontouring can't completely fix tooth imperfections, your dentist may combine the treatment with bonding. In this procedure, a composite resin is used to repair or restore fractures, chips or cavities.
Recontouring doesn't affect the living pulp of the tooth. For this reason, it usually can be done without an anestetic. Most people will need one or two visits to complete the treatment.
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Treatment
Recontouring can be done only when the overall tooth structure is sound. Your dentist will take X-rays to determine the size and location of the tooth's pulp. The pulp is in the center of the tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels. If the tooth has a relatively thin layer of enamel, or if the pulp lies close to the surface, recontouring may not be possible.
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Risk
Recontouring does not pose any major risks. However, depending on the thickness of your enamel, a tooth that has been recontoured may become sensitive.
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