A chipped tooth, or even worse, a broken tooth, can quickly ruin your day. The dentists at North Pointe Dental Associates know that a chipped or a broken tooth can make you feel self-conscious and unattractive. Considering the fact that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, it’s important to know your options about how to get a chipped or broken tooth repaired, such as enamel reshaping.
North Pointe Dental Associates is home to some of the best dentists in Tampa and the staff is committed to providing their patients with the best care possible. Here they have shared information about enamel reshaping so you know all your options before scheduling your next appointment.
What is enamel reshaping?
Enamel reshaping or contouring is one of the cornerstones of cosmetic dentistry. It is a procedure in which a dentist adjusts a tooth to correct its appearance. You might need enamel contouring if you chipped your tooth, if the tooth’s surface is a little rough, or if your teeth overlap. You might also consider enamel contouring if a tooth is shaped slightly differently than a matching tooth.
What are the benefits of enamel shaping?
The main benefit of enamel reshaping or contouring is that it provides instant results. Unlike wearing braces, for example, tooth contouring typically takes less than an hour to fix minor tooth overlapping. And you don’t have to worry about pain because there are no nerve endings in the enamel.
In addition to being more affordable than some other cosmetic procedures, enamel recontouring is permanent. The enamel does not grow back, so you don’t have to worry about redoing the procedure later on.
Are there disadvantages of enamel reshaping?
The only disadvantage of enamel reshaping, or cosmetic contouring, is that it can be used to repair only minor cosmetic problems because the amount of enamel is limited. Your dentist will need to leave a portion of the enamel to protect your tooth, so you might need to consider other procedures if the problem is not a minor one.
How is enamel reshaping done?
Dentists use special drills or lasers to gently remove a small amount of the tooth’s enamel in order to change the shape or the length of the tooth. Enamel is the tooth’s outer covering, protecting the softer part inside, so the dentist can not remove all of it. Once the enamel shaving is complete, the dentist will then polish the tooth, and the patient can go home to enjoy a new and improved appearance.
The opposite of enamel reshaping is bonding. Your dentist might need to add tooth-colored resin material to fill holes, cracks, or small gaps to even out the teeth.
Schedule your appointment today.
Cosmetic contouring is a fast and easy way to perfect your smile. The best dentists at North Pointe Dental Associates take great pride in improving the smiles of their patients. If you have a tooth that needs to be perfected, or you just want to schedule a dental exam, call (813) 961-1727 or use the appointment request form.
