Can I Change the Shape of My Teeth?

Yes, you can, our dental expert says, and it doesn't necessarily involve orthodontia.

Medically Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on April 01, 2012
Written by Gwen Cohen Brown, DDS
1 min read

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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