A canine that comes to a sharp point, a front tooth sitting slightly longer than its neighbour, or a small chip that catches your tongue can often be tidied up by smoothing away a sliver of enamel. Dentists call this contouring or enameloplasty. It is usually done in one short visit, often without an injection, and the change shows straight away. The catch is that enamel does not grow back, so the work has to stay small.
It can only take away, never add
Contouring works by removing surface enamel and polishing what is left. That makes it a good match for a tooth that is a little too long, too pointed or rough along its edge. It cannot help a tooth that is too short, worn down or has a gap beside it, because those problems need material added rather than removed.
For those cases, tooth-coloured resin is bonded on instead. Many smile refinements combine the two in a single appointment, taking a fraction off one edge and building up another. Our comparison of composite bonding and veneers explains how bonding works.
Small problems it suits
- uneven or slightly jagged biting edges on the front teeth
- a sharp corner left behind by a small chip
- a canine that looks more pointed than you would like
- one tooth that sits slightly longer than the matching tooth on the other side
- a mild overlap where trimming the edge makes the line of the teeth look straighter
The effect is subtle by design. If you want a noticeably different colour or shape, veneers or crowns may be more suitable, and teeth that are clearly out of line are better moved with braces or clear aligners.
A short, usually painless visit
The appointment starts with a look at your teeth, your bite and what is bothering you. Your dentist may take photographs, or try a temporary mock-up so you can see the proposed shape before any enamel is touched. Checking the bite matters, because the edges of the front teeth help guide how the jaw moves, and changing them without thought can alter how teeth meet.
The reshaping itself uses fine polishing discs or burs to remove tiny amounts from the surface. The edges are then smoothed and polished so they look natural. Outer enamel has no nerves, so most people feel only vibration and an injection is rarely needed. There is no recovery period, and you can eat normally afterwards.
Contouring, bonding and veneers side by side
| Treatment | How it works | Suits | Can it be undone? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contouring | Removes a little enamel and polishes the edge | Minor edge and shape refinements | No, removed enamel does not regrow |
| Composite bonding | Adds tooth-coloured resin to the tooth | Small chips, gaps and building up short teeth | Often, as little or no enamel is removed |
| Porcelain veneers | Covers the front surface with a thin shell | Larger changes in shape and colour | No, some enamel is usually removed |
Why less is more
Enamel is the hard outer layer protecting the softer dentine beneath. Remove too much and the dentine can come closer to the surface, which may make the tooth sensitive or weaker at the edge. That is why careful dentists keep contouring to small adjustments and say no when a tooth would need more taken off than is safe.
Grinding is worth mentioning too. If you clench or grind, reshaping an edge does nothing to stop that wear, and the new edge can chip or wear again. A night guard may help protect your teeth.
What people ask before contouring
Will it hurt?
Usually not. Outer enamel has no nerve supply, so most people need no anaesthetic.
Does the result last?
The enamel that is removed is gone for good, so the new shape is permanent. Normal wear over the years can still change the edges slowly, as it does with any teeth.
Can it straighten crooked teeth?
Only in the sense of smoothing a very slight irregularity along the edge. Teeth that are rotated, crowded or out of line need orthodontic treatment to move them.
Finding out if it suits your teeth
A short assessment is enough to tell whether contouring, bonding or a combination is the better fit. Lumi Dental offers a free consult for cosmetic treatment, and details are on our current deals page. You can also read about composite bonding at our Melrose Park practice.
This article is general information and not a substitute for personal dental advice.
