Teeth Reshaping: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Teeth reshaping is a cosmetic procedure that does not treat any conditions of the teeth, but simply makes them look uniform and in better shape. It is one of the simplest ways in which chipped and irregular teeth can be fixed and people undergoing the surgery can get the perfect set of pearly whites that they always dreamed of.

As the name suggests, teeth reshaping is not an essential procedure and people can easily avoid undergoing the same. Reshaping can sometimes be combined with bonding, which is another dental procedure. Both of these methods are combined to get beautifully arranged and coloured teeth.

Teeth reshaping can be used to fix small chips, smoothing out the bulging growth in the enamel, adjusting the size of certain teeth and creating even shapes when it comes to the overall dental region. The procedure can also resolve any overlapping between two teeth.

The procedure involves several steps prior to the actual reshaping. First of all, the patient will need to undergo an initial exam. An X-Ray is conducted of the tooth or teeth in question. This test allows the dentist to determine the extent of the pulp and the proximity of the pulp to the gums. If either the pulp is greater in concentration or if it exists too near the base of the teeth, the dentist may advise against the operation.

The dentist will use a sanding disc or diamond edged tool to chip small parts of the teeth. Slowly when the desired shape is achieved, the dentist will use a sandpaper to smoothen out the teeth. After this process is complete, the dentist will polish the tooth in question. The entire procedure is completed without the need of anaesthetics. This is because the process does not affect the pulp inside the tooth and so, there is no or very limited pain.

The procedure is done on a per tooth basis. So, greater the number of teeth needing reshaping, larger will be the cost associated with the procedure.

All people are qualified to get their teeth reshaped. Since it is a cosmetic procedure, people can opt for the same if they feel like it. However, a person with uniform teeth will not receive sizable benefits from the procedure. Only people with irregular or chipped off tooth will be able to clearly spot the difference after the process.

People who do not suffer from teeth damage as a result of accidents or other causes do not need to undergo teeth recountouring.

Since, the procedure involves chipping portions of the enamel, there can be certain side effects if a proper method is not followed. If too much of the enamel is chipped off, the dentin layer of the teeth may become exposed. It is the layer that sits right underneath the enamel layer. Exposure of dentin could lead to an hyper-sensitive tooth, which makes consuming cold, hot and sweet foods difficult and painful.

If the reshaping procedure is not combined with bonding or veneer placement, no post treatment guidelines need to be followed. However, if it is done in combination with bonding, patients must avoid chewing hard food items or putting too much pressure on the teeth. If pressure is put on the teeth, it may chip and further reshaping may be required in the future.

Usually, anaesthetics are not used in case of teeth reshape. The process takes a bit of time, but patients recover almost instantly. However, it is better to avoid hard food items for a while.

Price of treatment differs from one place to the next. However, the price is calculated on a per tooth basis. So, for a single tooth the cost may be anywhere between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000.

Results are not permanent and future accidents or injuries can lead to a recurrence of the condition.

Often bonding is used as an alternative form of treatment when it comes to reshaping the teeth. However, teeth reshaping is used when the chipping is minor.