What is meant by Enamel Shaping?
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Enamel shaping is a minor cosmetic dental procedure that aims at correcting the uneven surfaces of a tooth by shaping the enamel layer. It is a minimally invasive procedure that can enhance your smile esthetics significantly. This approach is lesser-known as it is preferred for addressing minor cases like minor chips (for which veneers are preferred in most cases), smoothening the corners. However, it guarantees you a beautiful, healthy smile.
This procedure is clinically termed in various names such as enameloplasty, odontoplasty, dental contouring, reshaping, etc.
What are the problems fixed by enamel shaping?
People who are looking for solutions to address surface flaws, restructure their teeth are ideal candidates for enamel shaping. Below are some of the problems for which enamel shaping is widely performed:
- Teeth having minor chips
- Minor discrepancies in tooth size
- Sharp edges or corners in teeth
- Rough spots on teeth
How do dentists reshape your enamel?
Beginning from analyzing the tooth thoroughly, dentists mark the teeth to highlight the regions that require reshaping, molding, or smoothing.
As mentioned earlier, dental contouring is a minimally invasive procedure that tends to eliminate the surface abnormalities of a tooth. Hence dentists utilize the same kind of appliances like fine diamond burs, sandpaper strips that polish the teeth during regular dental cleanings.
Mostly, a small amount of enamel is removed during this procedure so that it does not provoke any pain. It is done without numbing the problematic tooth or oral tissues regardless of the solution you expect like removing overlapping areas, smoothing pointy edges, and others.
What are the benefits of getting enamel shaping treatments?
- Getting the right shape of a tooth is not just to restore your beautiful smile alone but it is also helpful in preventing plaque build-up followed by serious bacterial invasions on teeth.
- This procedure is inexpensive
- The reshaped teeth appear natural.
- Dental contouring procedure will be performed in a single dental appointment.
- It does not require any recovery period following the treatment so that you can return to your daily routine easily.
In simply, enamel shaping treatment is not just a cosmetic dental procedure. Despite it being performed to address minor teeth problems like surface flaws, it plays a great role in preventing the sharp corners of a tooth injure the oral tissues, addressing overlapping issues, and much more.
Bottom line
Enamel shaping is the best choice to restructure a tooth that requires subtle changes. It is also efficient in correcting the irregularities in shape, texture of your teeth to revamp your smile aesthetics. Meanwhile, you have a variety of options like dental bonding, composite resins, veneers along dental contouring to treat such abnormalities in the teeth surfaces.
