Can Reduction of the Enamel Damage Your Teeth?

asked 3 years ago by amy in uk
Latest answer by Jason K. Tam, DDS
Question viewed 1,576 times

I am about to get my first aligner and was told by my dentist that he will need to thin the width of my front teeth by 3-4mm. I thought this was a bad idea and anything could go wrong. I want perfect looking teeth not to look like a rabbit!

Plus, I want healthy teeth! Isn't the thinning of the width destroying the enamel leaving my teeth unprotected and very sensitive? Please help with your experience. Sounds like a stupid thing to do!! Thank you for your opinion.

2 answers to Can Reduction of the Enamel Damage Your Teeth?

Proper reduction is safe

Interproximal reduction (IPR), stripping, slenderization, or enamelplasty is always one of the biggest concerns of Invisalign patients. This procedure is not limited to Invisalign but also used with patients in fixed braces. Recently, in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Zachrisson, one of the most famous orthodontists of our time, published a paper showing the stability and safety of this procedure after 10 years of study. The key is the proper technique... more

Jason K. Tam, DDS
Toronto Orthodontist

Interproximal Reduction for Invisalign

Reducing the enamel in-between teeth won't cause any harm, unless the enamel layer is completely removed and the dentin layer is exposed. This could cause sensitivity and increased decay susceptibility. The good news is, this would be a rare occurrence as part of Invisalign treatment. Usually, the most space created between two teeth is 1/2 mm. If you do this between multiple teeth, it's easy to gain 3-4mm total space. I'm sure that a 1/2mm space created in-between your teeth won't make... more

Daniel W. Schiavone, DDS
Rochester Cosmetic Dentist

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Can Reduction of the Enamel Damage Your Teeth?

Proper reduction is safe

Interproximal Reduction for Invisalign

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