Tooth contouringTooth reshaping · Shaping the tooth
- Same day
- Finished the same day
- Reduction
- Very little
- Tooth movement
- None
- Waiting period
- None
- Limit
- Small range of change
- Cost
- Explained after your exam
Tooth contouring reshapes the edges and length of a tooth very slightly. The tooth is not moved, very little is removed, and it is finished the same day.
It is used when a tooth looks like it sticks out because of its length or a difference from the tooth next to it, not because of its position. Moving the tooth in this case can make it tip back or look short.
The amount that can change is small, though. If a tooth is far out of line, contouring alone is not enough.
Why tooth contouring
Only a little is reshapedSometimes what is removed is no more than a little dust. No extra room is made for a covering.
Done the same dayNo impressions are taken. You can get up and go as soon as it is reshaped.
Nothing is movedIt suits cases where the position is fine but only the edge stands out. It does not change how your teeth are lined up.
How tooth contouring works
The tooth is not moved. Only the edge and corners are reshaped.
- 01
We check what stands out
We tell apart whether the cause is length, a corner, or the tooth actually sticking out. If it really sticks out, contouring will not solve it.
- 02
We decide how much to remove
Only a small amount can change, so if a big change is needed, we do not stop at contouring.
- 03
We reshape the corners
A very thin layer is removed to even out the edge. We do not remove enough to fit a covering.
- 04
We check the light and length, and finish
It is done the same day, and no retainer is needed.
How much to move
For front teeth, how much is moved depends on what you want to change. We start with the cases where nothing needs to move.
Nothing moved
This is when the teeth look like they stick out because of their length or a difference from the teeth next to them. The position is fine, and moving them would make them tilt back or look shorter. In this case we first suggest shaping the corners and length, or a treatment that adds on top without removing anything.
Only a few front teeth moved
This is when the jawline looks natural but only the front teeth are tilted or spread apart. Instead of putting appliances on every tooth, we pull just the few teeth involved. Your own teeth are kept as they are, with nothing removed. But it takes a few months, and you will need to wear a retainer after it is done.
Moved with a removable appliance
The way the teeth are moved is the same; only the appliance differs. You wear clear trays and switch to the next one in a set order. They are hard to notice, and you can take them out to brush, so care is easy. But you need to wear them close to 22 hours a day, and treatment is delayed by however long they are out.
The jaw needs to move
This is when it is hard to close your lips comfortably and the whole mouth area sits forward. Pushing only the teeth back leaves the bone where it is, so the teeth tilt back unnaturally. This is beyond what moving teeth alone can solve, so rather than stopping at partial orthodontics or clear aligners, we tell you right away.
Is contouring alone enough?
Only a small amount can change. It is for teeth that do not stick out from the side but stand out from the front. If a tooth is far out of line, we look at treatments that move it.
Will it be done today?
It is done the same day. No impressions are taken.
Does it hurt?
So little is removed that no anesthesia is used. Let us know if it feels sensitive.
Can it be put back?
What is removed does not grow back. Nothing was added, so there is nothing to take off.
