The dentist sculpts the tooth, eliminating or minimizing imperfections. He/she uses a sanding drill or a laser to remove small amounts of surface enamel. He/she may move strips of abrasive back and forth between teeth to shape the sides of the teeth. Then the teeth are smoothed and polished usually without anesthetic.
Treatment usually takes one to three visits. You may need to see your dentist a week or two after dental reshaping for a follow-up visit.
Reshaping is most often performed to improve the appearance of teeth. But it can improve your dental health, also. If plaque and tartar tend to accumulate, smoothing the teeth or repairing overlaps may make them easier to clean--resulting in fewer cavities while reducing the risk of gum disease. Recontouring teeth can also help correct small problems with bite and function. Sometimes bonding is combined with tooth reshaping to achieve optimum results.
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