What is the difference between tooth contouring and orthodontics?
Tooth contouring reshapes or covers the surface where the teeth are now, while orthodontics changes where the teeth are. I am often asked, “Should we shave them to fit, or move them?” Neither one is always the better treatment; they suit different cases.
| Current state of the front teeth | Treatment to consider first |
|---|---|
| Aligned, with only slightly rough or uneven edges | Enamel contouring (tooth contouring) |
| Position is right, but color, width, or shape falls short | Porcelain veneers |
| Overlapping, sticking out, or the bite is off | Orthodontics |
When is tooth contouring that only reshapes the enamel done?
When the alignment and bite are fine and only the edges are slightly off. When the edges of the front teeth are slightly uneven, a corner is chipped very slightly, the left and right lengths differ a little, or the teeth look angular, we reshape part of the outer layer (enamel) in a limited way.
Enamel has no nerves, so reshaping it does not hurt much. However, if too much is removed and the dentin is exposed, the tooth becomes sensitive and prone to cavities, and shaved tooth does not come back. So even if you ask for more to be removed, I reshape only where needed. More details are on the Tooth contouring page.
When are porcelain veneers bonded?
When the position is right but the color, size, or shape falls short. They are for discoloration that whitening does not fix, small teeth (microdontia), gaps, front-tooth proportions, worn or finely chipped enamel, and the color of old composite resin.
Wonjin Dental’s Brinate is a veneer placed without shaving the teeth, with no anesthesia and no temporary tooth. Basic is about 0.3mm and can be done the same day, Build-up is 0.1mm and takes about 1 week, and Platinum is 0.1mm and takes about 2 weeks. However, we place it only when the teeth sit inward or there is space left, and we do not bond it onto teeth that stick out forward.
We also decide whether to do whitening before veneers. The porcelain that is placed does not whiten, so if you plan to brighten the surrounding teeth, we first set the color with whitening and then make the veneers to match that color.
When should orthodontics come first?
When the front teeth overlap or are rotated severely, when the front teeth stick out forward, when the upper and lower teeth do not close together, or when there is a bite problem that keeps wearing down or chipping the front teeth. A skeletal protruding mouth is not solved with porcelain veneers either.
If porcelain is bonded onto crooked teeth, more must be shaved to make them look good, and the shape also looks awkward. When only a few front teeth need to be moved, we straighten them with partial orthodontics, and aligning the position first reduces how much needs to be removed afterward.
After orthodontics, a retainer keeps the teeth in place. If moved teeth shift back, the tooth contouring or veneers done on them also become misaligned. Keeping the right order is what makes the result last.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
I look first at where your teeth are now, rather than at the shape you want. Even if it feels frustrating now, aligning the teeth first and then adding whitening, tooth contouring, or porcelain veneers preserves more tooth one year and ten years later.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tooth contouring | ₩100,000 |
| Brinate Basic / Build-up / Platinum (per tooth) | ₩330,000 / ₩550,000 / ₩990,000 |
| Partial orthodontics MTA | ₩1,800,000 |
| Orthodontic diagnosis | ₩100,000 |
As of September 2026, VAT included (cosmetic treatment). All items are in Full fee list.
Frequently asked questions
Is tooth contouring (enamel contouring) finished in one day?
It is usually finished in one visit. When reshaping within the enamel, it is often done without anesthesia, and after reshaping, the surface is polished smooth.
Might I need both orthodontics and porcelain veneers?
Yes. The order is to align the position with orthodontics and then refine any remaining color or size issues with porcelain veneers. Moving the teeth first reduces how much needs to be shaved or added.
Are teeth sensitive after tooth contouring?
If reshaping stays within the enamel, there is usually no sensitivity or only mild sensitivity. If sensitivity continues, we check the reshaped surface again.
Can I change the shape with composite resin instead of tooth contouring?
Small gaps or chipped corners can be changed by adding composite resin. It does not involve shaving, but over time it can discolor or wear, so it is reshaped or redone every few years.
