Dental contouring is one of those minimally invasive but, at the same time, very effective treatments. It achieves a great aesthetic improvement of the smile, and it does so in record time: in a single session.
Because dental contouring has so many benefits, more and more patients are asking for it. For this reason, in today’s article, we will explain what this aesthetic treatment consists of, in what situations it is indicated, and what its price is.
What is dental contouring?
Dental contouring is a treatment that consists of profiling the edge of the teeth to correct small defects and irregularities. So, the smile looks better and more uniform.
Although it could be performed on any dental piece, this procedure is only carried out in the anterior sector of the smile. That is, in the teeth that are most visible when smiling.
As we advance, it is essential to consider that a dental anesthetic specialist with extensive experience in this type of case must carry out the contouring. This is because the treatment is performed directly on the patient’s teeth.
Therefore, any error can be irreversible and must be corrected through additional treatment, such as dental veneers. Therefore, although this treatment may seem simple, it requires great manual dexterity and concentration on the dentist’s part.
In which cases is dental contouring recommended?
Dental contouring is usually performed in the upper arch. And, more specifically, in the incisors (central and lateral) and the canines -also called fangs-.
That being said, dentists resort to contouring to correct enamel imperfections such as the following:
- Excessively long central incisors
- Very sharp fangs (“Dracula” type)
- Misaligned incisal edges: This occurs when the edges of the teeth are not level. It can occur with teeth equal to each other (the two central incisors, for example). In addition, it occurs when there is a significant difference in the heights of the teeth.
- jagged edges
- Macrodontia (teeth that are excessive in size)
- Shape abnormalities: this occurs when the anatomy of a tooth does not respond to normal patterns
In what situations is it contraindicated?
For its part, dental contouring is not recommended in cases such as the following:
- Very short teeth that have lost a large amount of enamel due to bruxism, for example
- Very crowded teeth in which, due to this crowding, certain parameters cannot be appreciated: unevenness, height, etc.
- Teeth with an excessively thin layer of enamel: dental contouring could expose the dentin in these cases. This is the tooth’s innermost layer, which contains the nerve endings. If exposed, it could cause hypersensitivity in the patient.
Can dental contouring be done after orthodontics?
Dental contouring should be done after orthodontics. This is because it is an aesthetic treatment, and, as such, it has to be done once the problems related to the health and functionality of the mouth have been solved.
Therefore, dental contouring must be done once the teeth align correctly. In this way, the dentist who performs the contouring will be able to do so, considering the final “version” of the denture. And, with all the teeth aligned, he can better visualize which teeth need to be shaped.
Having said that, it’s important to note that dental contouring can also be done along with whitening, which is another cosmetic treatment. This combination of treatments makes it possible to improve the main aspects that make up the so-called “perfect teeth“: color, shape, size, and position of the teeth.
Advantages of dental contouring
Dental contouring is a procedure that gives patients many benefits:
- It is very fast: it is done in a single session.
- It offers visible results: it is the best example that a big change can be achieved to the smile with a few small modifications.
