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How to Fix Chipped Teeth With Cosmetic Tooth Reshaping

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Do you have minor defects on your teeth that you’d like to rid yourself of? A quick conversation with your dentist about tooth reshaping, also referred to as dental contouring, could answer some important questions.

What is tooth reshaping?

Tooth reshaping is a procedure in which minute changes are made to the length, shape, or surface of a patient’s teeth by removing small amounts of enamel. These changes deal with problems like
misshapen teeth, slightly overlapping teeth, chips in teeth, and pointy cuspids.

Are any other processes used?

Yes. This process is often used in conjunction with another treatment called “bonding”, which uses material colored like the patient’s teeth to sculpt the tooth.

What is involved?

Tooth reshaping is performed using both dental instruments and abrasion techniques. X-Rays may be taken prior to the procedure to check for any unforeseen issues. The dentist will then mark all the areas on the teeth that need sculpting (usually with a pen). A sanding tool is then used on the surface of the teeth, while strips with a sandpaper-like surface are often used on the sides of the teeth. After, teeth are then buffered and polished.

What are the benefits?

There are many potential benefits to tooth reshaping. Let’s walk through some of them.

Cost: Tooth reshaping is a fairly inexpensive way to beautify the teeth. It typically costs anywhere from $50 to $300 per tooth, depending on how much work is required.

Health: Tartar and plaque love to accumulate in imperfections and overlaps, which can lead to decay and gum disease. Tooth reshaping is a great preventative measure to remove minor imperfections that can lead so something more serious down the road.

Pain: The procedure only involves the removal of enamel; therefore, there is no pain and no anesthesia is necessary. However, teeth can become sensitive after the procedure depending on how much enamel is removed. If too much enamel is removed, the tooth may be at risk of breaking.
Is tooth reshaping right for me?

If you are looking to avoid the pitfalls of more expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures with a quick, minute adjustment or small repair to improve the way your teeth look and feel, then yes–tooth reshaping is the appropriate route. However, if you are looking to curb a problem caused by tooth decay, the need for a root canal, or gum disease, then you would need to look to other treatments rather than tooth reshaping.

What to do in Case of a Sports Injury to Your Mouth

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Imagine you’re out playing some football at the park with your friends. You don’t want to hurt each other, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some occasional contact. You run out to your position before the snap, your route already in mind.

There’s the snap. You run straight ahead, cut hard left. You look at the ball flying towards you, and so is your buddy playing defense. Right as your fingertips touch the ball, pop! You feel solid bone collide with your mouth. You fall to the ground, wondering how bad the damage is.

What do you do next?

We never like to think about a teeth or jaw injury, maybe because they’re so painful, or maybe because they’re so much more difficult to heal than a broken arm or leg. Maybe it’s because we know our teeth are permanent. Whatever the reason, mouth injuries are very common in both competitive and recreational sports, so you need to know what to do in case it happens to you or a teammate.

If a tooth is knocked out, try to find it as soon as possible. Handle it by the crown—not the root—and gently wash it off with water. If possible, reposition the tooth back into the socket. If not, keep the tooth in a small glass of milk until you get to the dentist.

For chipped teeth, you may not be able to find the part that was chipped off. If you can, be sure to bring it with you to the dentist. If not, the chip can usually be repaired in a number of ways, depending on how severe it is.

For cracked or otherwise damaged teeth, see a dentist as soon as you possibly can. Unless there is serious bleeding, do not go to an emergency room instead—without a dentist on staff, there is not much they can do for you.

And of course, always remember to wear a mouth guard when playing sports, especially contact sports like football. They’re an extremely affordable way to protect some of your most valuable assets: your teeth.

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