Q: Can I change the shape of my teeth?
A: Yes, and to do so, you can choose from several dental procedures.
Dental bonding is a procedure in which your dentist applies a tooth-colored resin to the tooth surface, which hardens with a special light that bonds the material to the tooth. Bonding can fill gaps between teeth, repair small chips, and smooth out rough edges.
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped “caps” placed over teeth. Cemented into place, crowns encase the entire visible portion of a tooth. Crowns are made of porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal, and restore the tooth’s natural shape, contour, and appearance.
Veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials, either porcelain or resin, that are bonded to the front surface of teeth.
Recontouring or reshaping removes small amounts of tooth enamel to change a tooth’s length, shape, or surface.
These options differ in terms of cost, durability, and “chair time.” Talk to your dentist to see what’s right for you.
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